"What is the term old child referring to?"
As the saying goes, "an old person in the family is like a treasure." However, phrases like "old child" and "little kid" are often heard to describe childish behaviors in the elderly. So, is being an "old child" a normal manifestation of aging? Medical research proves that "old child" and "senile dementia" are not normal physiological phenomena in the elderly but rather mild cognitive impairment caused by aging and the long-term effects of various chronic diseases. Among the elderly over 65 years old, 16%-31% suffer from mild cognitive impairment. Each year, 15% of mild cognitive impairment progresses to Alzheimer's disease, 34% within 2 years, and 57% within 3 years. Therefore, mild cognitive impairment is actually the early stage of Alzheimer's disease, and treating "old children" as such, delaying treatment, should not be overlooked.
What is Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an acquired cognitive decline without significant functional impairment in daily life. It is not characterized by memory loss but rather by aphasia or emotional disturbances. MCI can progress to vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or semantic dementia. Clinical studies show that about 10% of people over 65 in Western countries have mild dementia, and 5% have moderate to severe dementia, most of which is caused by mild impairment. China has entered an aging society, with approximately 6 million Alzheimer's patients, including 100,000 in Beijing alone. The enormous economic and care burden on families and society caused by Alzheimer's disease is immense.
The Importance of Active Treatment for MCI
Active treatment of MCI holds strategic significance in preventing Alzheimer's disease. MCI can manifest as memory loss, such as frequently misplacing items, difficulty remembering acquaintances' names, phone numbers, or recent conversations; disorientation in familiar environments; difficulties with timekeeping, learning, and accepting new information; decreased attention span; and frequent traffic violations like running red lights while cycling. Personality changes may also occur, such as emotional indifference, depression, irritability, anxiety, or slowed speech with dissatisfaction in word choice. Impaired executive function may result in an inability to follow instructions.
Preventing Alzheimer's Disease: The Three Lines of Defense
Apart from aging, MCI and Alzheimer's disease are often associated with various risk factors. For instance, over 41% of cerebrovascular disease patients and 42% of coronary artery bypass patients experience cognitive impairment. Chronic heart failure patients have a 26% risk of dementia, and 100% of apolipoprotein E ε4 allele carriers develop dementia. Additionally, 98% of patients with amyloid angiopathy suffer from secondary dementia. Family history, cerebral arteriosclerosis, white matter ischemia, brain atrophy, low education, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, brain injury, vitamin B12 deficiency, syphilis, HIV, depression, and Parkinson's disease are all linked to Alzheimer's disease. Hence, the medical community has established three lines of defense against Alzheimer's: reducing risk factors like hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia; actively treating MCI to prevent Alzheimer's; and effectively treating and caring for Alzheimer's patients to maintain quality of life and extend lifespan. Among these, actively treating MCI is crucial for preventing Alzheimer's, embodying the concept of "micro-prevention for the macro-challenge."
