Mild cognitive impairment

A condition involving a noticeable decline in cognitive abilities — such as memory or thinking skills — that is greater than expected for a person's age but does not significantly interfere with daily independent functioning. MCI is not classified as dementia, and in some cases cognitive function may return to normal. For digital accessibility, MCI is relevant because people experiencing it may struggle with complex interfaces, multi-step processes, or information-dense screens, yet their needs are often overlooked in technology design. Including people with MCI in user research helps ensure digital products are usable across a broader cognitive spectrum.