How does MCI relate to Alzheimer's?
Both my 80-year-old parents are diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment. They have become impulsive, disorganized, argumentative, and forgetful. They can no longer maintain their train of thought or follow the thread of a conversation. They regularly forget to take their medicines (even though I visit weekly to dispense into pill containers) and they miss Dr appointments. They show very poor judgment and they're overwhelmed by making decisions or planning a task. And they have recently started to have trouble finding their way around familiar locations. My dad is in worse shape and was diagnosed with MCI about five years ago. He no longer knows what year it is or what city he is in. My mom's diagnosis was last year and doctors can't say whether it is truly an intermediate dementia stage, or caused by the stress of caring for my father. I'm 60 miles away. I call daily and make weekly visits to check on them and refill their pill containers. I have arranged for nursing and PT home visits, as well as placing a home health caregiver in their house 40 hours a week. But they fired the first caregiver and ran the second off. I'm nearing my wit's end. My question is about what I can expect as time passes. Does MCI always develop into full dementia? Will they get Alzheimer's? Is it possible for them to get better? (They are both on Namenda and Donepezil.) I need to know what to expect or at least what to prepare for. Thanks for whatever advice you can provide.
Some doctors (I think) tend to use "MCI" as a more gentle diagnosis that the patient can accept. My mother was not bothered about having MCI and she recognized she had "some memory problems," but she would have been devastated to think she had dementia. He geriatrician never used that term with her, but she did, in fact, have dementia.
MCI can be the beginning stage of ALZ or LBD or other kinds of dementia. If it really is dementia in the brain it will definitely progress into other symptoms.
Frankly, it really sounds like that train has left the station for your parents. Assume they have dementia. Read up on it. Ask questions here about it. Join a support group for persons caring for a loved one with dementia. If they get better that will be a huge gift, but it is highly unlikely -- for either MCI or dementia.
I am so sorry you are in this situation. Welcome to the club no one wants to join!
No matter what label you give their behaviors and symptoms, you have to cope with them as they appear. You have to figure out a way to manage their medications whether they forget because of MCI or because of ALZ or vascular dementia or Lew Body. Having a more specific diagnosis can be useful, but it doesn't necessarily point the way to better treatment.
Would it work to speak with them and tell them how very worried and stressed you are over them and they need to accept help for your sake? There are lots of good articles on this site to help you with that. Check them out and let us know how it goes.
From the description you gave us your parents' situation sounds very precarious and out of control. They need more care as you know since you've tried to get it for them in the past. Do you have siblings that can lend support? Have you considered a skilled nursing facility? It may not be possible for your parents to be on their own anymore.