How do you counsel elderly patients who demonstrate mild cognitive impairment but do not meet the criteria for a neurocognitive disorder?

I would let them know that mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an umbrella diagnosis with many different contributing factors as well as risk factors for progression to dementia. Control what you can control. Limit contributing factors such as pain, mood, and sleep optimization, as well as limiting anticholinergic medications (just to name a few). Then make sure risk factors are limited, some include making sure hearing is optimized, avoiding head traumas, high air pollution areas, etc. Let the patient know that we will continue to monitor their cognition both from a subjective and objective perspective, such as the MOCA test for the latter. Also, let them know about potential disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease, and if they...

My first knee cap response would be an immediate consultation with a diabetologist and diet changes and avoiding free sugar. One of the most offensive culprits for the most common neurodegenerative condition, Alzheimer's disease, even before I knew that that is an Alzheimer's disease.

It cannot hurt a person with this. Not to mention that most people would benefit from weight loss.