Mild Cognitive Impairment involves noticeable problems with memory, language, or thinking skills. Unlike dementia, MCI doesn’t severely interfere with daily life but it increases the risk of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Key symptoms include:

• Frequently forgetting recent conversations or appointments
• Struggling to follow instructions, make decisions, or plan
• Difficulty finding the right words
• Feeling mentally slower or overwhelmed by complex tasks

When Mild Cognitive Impairment is diagnosed, doctors typically recommend a combination of therapies to support brain health:

• Medications

Cholinesterase inhibitors, such as Donepezil, are sometimes prescribed to enhance memory and attention by boosting chemical messengers in the brain. These drugs may offer modest improvements in certain cases but are not designed to repair damaged brain circuits. Side effects like nausea, dizziness, or insomnia can also limit their use.

• Cognitive Training

Brain exercises, memory games, and problem-solving activities aim to strengthen thinking skills. Cognitive training is often part of structured rehabilitation programs, but its benefits depend heavily on consistent participation and may not be enough to halt progression alone.

• Lifestyle Modifications

Adopting a brain-healthy lifestyle through regular exercise, a nutrient-rich diet, stress management, and social engagement which supports overall well-being and may lower dementia risk. But again, these alone don’t actively stimulate the deep memory circuits that underperform in MCI.

For patients and families seeking stronger, brain-directed intervention, advanced non-invasive therapies like Deep TMS are now available to complement these approaches. 

While medications, mental exercises, and lifestyle changes provide a foundation for managing MCI, they have limitations:

• Don’t directly repair or rewire brain circuits that are underactive in MCI.
• Slow onset of effects, with subtle improvements that are hard to measure.
• Progression risk remains: Research shows 10–15% of MCI patients develop dementia each year without active intervention.

This gap highlights the need for treatments that go beyond symptom management to address the neurological root of cognitive decline.

Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS) is a non-invasive, FDA-cleared therapy that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate key brain areas involved in memory, attention, and problem-solving.

Unlike traditional treatments, Deep TMS directly:

• Activates hippocampal and prefrontal cortex networks critical for memory formation
• Promotes neuroplasticity, helping the brain form new connections
• Supports cognitive function and emotional balance

MCI Treatment with Deep TMS at Jaslok Hospital

A clinical study published in Neuropsychopharmacology demonstrated that Deep TMS:

• Improved memory and attention in patients with MCI
• Increased brain activity in cognitive networks on imaging studies
• May help delay progression to Alzheimer’s when started early
• Safe and well-tolerated, even in older adults
• 20–30 minute outpatient sessions with no downtime
• Complements medications, therapy, and lifestyle changes for holistic care

If you’re doing memory exercises, taking medications, and living a brain-healthy lifestyle, good. But adding Deep TMS therapy in Mumbai can significantly boost those efforts. It’s the only non-invasive therapy for MCI that directly stimulates underactive brain circuits.

Think of it as the missing piece in your treatment plan.

At Jaslok Hospital, we combine innovation with compassionate care:

• India’s First Advanced dTMS Program
• Powered by BrainsWay’s H-coil technology, designed for cognitive disorders
• A multidisciplinary team of neurologists, psychiatrists, and neuropsychologists
• Customized care plans for every patient