Although mental decline commonly occurs in older adults, the condition has several significant implications. People with cognitive impairment, for instance, are prone to forgetting information. Their condition may also affect their perception and their ability to complete a task. A new study, however, suggests that mental decline may also have something to do with early deaths in seniors.

In a new study that sought to determine the relationship between death and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), researchers followed over two thousand individuals who were between 70 and 89 years old for a period of almost six years. Of these participants, 862 had thinking and memory problems while 1,292 did not have these cognitive problems.

The researchers asked the participants to take a test that evaluate their thinking and memory abilities at the start of the study and thereafter every 15 months. Over the period of the study, the researchers observed that the participants with thinking and memory problems were more likely to die as 38 percent of the participants with MCI died while only 17 percent of those without the condition died.

"Exploring how memory may or may not be linked with the length of a person's life has tremendous significance as the population age," said study author Maria Vassilaki, from the Mayo Clinic.

Mild cognitive impairment is a condition characterized by mild but noticeable decline in mental abilities. Although it does not significantly affect a person's daily functioning, individuals with MCI are at higher risks of developing dementia.

There are two types of MCI, the amnestic MCI which affects the memory, and the non-amnestic MCI which affects a person's thinking skills. Patients with amnestic MCI tend to forget information and appointments. Those with non-amnestic MCI, on the other hand, have intact memories but may have trouble making sound decisions.

The researchers observed that there are differences in the death rate of participants with non-amnestic and amnestic MCI as well. They noted that the patients who have MCI but without memory problems were over two times more likely to die than those without MCI while patients with MCI and memory problems were 68 percent more likely to die than those without MCI.

The research will be presented at the 66th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology which will be held in Philadelphia from April 26 to May 3.