According to recent article by Medical News Today, forgetting little things like why you entered a room or where you left your phone is often dismissed as a normal part of aging. But these minor memory lapses can actually signal mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early warning sign for Alzheimer’s disease.

Because many people, even doctors, view minor forgetfulness as unremarkable, those with MCI often don’t realize they have a problem. As a result, they miss opportunities to take preventive action or get treatment. This is according to two new studies from researchers at the University of Southern California, published concurrently in the journal Neurology. Catching MCI early could allow people to take steps to delay or manage Alzheimer’s disease. But first we need greater awareness that minor memory issues may indicate a serious underlying condition.

Read the full article here.