What is cognitive decline?

Not all cognitive decline leads to dementia. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects 15-20% of adults over 65 and represents a middle ground between normal aging and dementia. People with MCI have noticeable cognitive changes but can still function independently. About 10-15% of MCI cases progress to dementia each year. Early detection is critical because some causes of cognitive decline are treatable (medication side effects, depression, thyroid issues, vitamin deficiencies). Daily check-in calls can detect subtle cognitive changes — confusion about the date, difficulty following the conversation, forgetting recent events — that family members visiting weekly might miss.