9 Treatable Conditions That Contribute to Mild Cognitive Impairment
Neurological DisordersAlzheimer’s Disease

How Treating These 9 Conditions May Improve Mild Cognitive Impairment

How Treating These 9 Conditions May Improve Mild Cognitive Impairment
Everyday Health
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Published on June 16, 2026
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When you have mild cognitive impairment (MCI), other conditions can magnify symptoms like memory loss and concentration problems.

 Some health conditions also affect your brain, and if they go untreated, they can make MCI worse.

But when you manage these medical issues, you can protect your brain and prevent the loss of brain function in MCI. Below, learn about nine common conditions that worsen mild cognitive impairment and how to treat them.

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1. High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) affects areas of the brain that control how fast you move, your attention span, and your ability to multitask.

When your blood pressure stays high, it puts stress on the delicate blood vessels in your brain, gradually causing damage, says Peter Gliebus, MD, the chief of neurology and the director of cognitive and behavioral neurology at Marcus Neuroscience Institute with Baptist Health South Florida in Boca Raton.

“Research indicates this vascular damage speeds up memory loss — and controlling blood pressure can lessen that damage,” says Dr. Gliebus. “Studies show that individuals with better blood pressure management have a reduced risk of dementia and experience a slower decline in cognitive function.”

Blood pressure numbers severity chart by Everyday Health.
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2. Diabetes

Your brain uses more sugar than any other organ in your body, and diabetes can change how much sugar it gets.

 “Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can harm blood vessels, cause brain inflammation, and disrupt the brain's capacity to remove harmful proteins linked to Alzheimer's,” says Gliebus.
Some studies show a connection between well-controlled blood sugar (measured by an A1C test) and better brain function. But experts say they need more research results to prove it.

3. High Cholesterol

Low levels of good cholesterol (HDL) and high levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) can cause buildup of sticky plaque on the walls of your blood vessels.

 This buildup can slow down blood flow to your brain, says Gliebus.
With less blood movement, damaging proteins get left behind.

 Plaque coating your blood vessels can also break free and cause a stroke.

Studies have shown a link between high levels of bad cholesterol and worsening brain function.

 But managing high cholesterol can decrease your risk of stroke and damage to your brain’s blood vessels, says Gliebus.

4. Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea interrupts your sleep throughout the night, which can affect how well your brain cells communicate with each other.

 Poor sleep can also affect your attention, memory, and ability to process information.

“Sleep apnea not only raises the risk of vascular diseases such as strokes and heart attacks, but can also cause cognitive symptoms beyond those seen in Alzheimer’s disease,” says Kaitlin Seibert, MD, a behavioral neurologist with Cleveland Clinic Center for Brain Health in Beachwood, Ohio.

“If we do not give our brain seven to nine hours of high-quality sleep per night, including treating sleep apnea when present, we cannot expect it to focus, engage, and find words efficiently,” says Dr. Seibert.

5. Depression

Research shows depression puts stress on your brain.

 This stress damages brain function and can even push mild cognitive impairment into dementia (cognitive decline that affects daily life) faster than in people without this mental illness.

“Depression and dementia often appear similar, as both lead to forgetfulness, concentration problems, and social withdrawal,” says Gliebus. But treating depression can improve memory and cognitive function, he says.

6. Hearing Loss

When your hearing starts to go, it may increase your risk of cognitive decline. “Our senses are important,” says Seibert. “If we cannot clearly hear or see information, it may never fully make it into the brain in the first place. If it does not get in, we cannot expect to remember it later.”

When you treat hearing loss, you may slow the loss of brain function. In one study, 490 older adults at risk for MCI got hearing aids. Over three years, that group had much slower cognitive decline that the group that got no treatment.

7. Thyroid Disease

Your thyroid, a gland in your neck, releases a hormone that manages important functions in almost every cell in your body.

 When your thyroid doesn’t release enough thyroid hormone, it can cause brain fog, slowed thinking, and memory problems, says Gliebus.

Research has found mixed results on the effectiveness of treating low thyroid hormone levels to improve cognitive function.

 But your healthcare provider will discuss your treatment options for hypothyroidism and explain what results you can expect.

8. Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm, can increase your risk of declining brain function. This condition makes you more likely to develop small blood clots that can reach your brain, causing silent injuries that worsen cognitive decline, says Gliebus.

Atrial fibrillation may also affect your brain by slowing blood flow and damaging your blood-brain barrier — a natural filter around your brain’s blood vessels. This damage can allow harmful substances to leak into brain tissue and cause problems like increased bleeding.

9. Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Your brain cells need vitamin B12 to develop, grow, and communicate with each other.

 “Particularly in older adults, low B12 impairs nerve function and can closely mimic dementia symptoms,” says Gliebus.
One small study found that people with low vitamin B12 levels who took supplements had improved cognitive function.

 But larger study reviews haven’t found the same connection.

 Your healthcare provider may recommend vitamin B12 supplements, but check with them first before you start taking anything new.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
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