Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in my 30's?

I am posting the follwing in the hope that there are others who may identify with my symptoms and offer advice, coping strategies and information regarding possible treatment.  Thanyou in advance.

I am a man in my late thirties - other than the symptoms detailed below I consider myself fit and healthy.  I eat well and enjoy regular exercise.  

Subjective Evaluation:

(I hope readers can understand the difficulty associated with explaining and quantifying symptoms of this nature):

Apparent over the last 5 years.  

First noticed around 2011.

I perceive my short term memory to be below average for my age, it was not always poor and has declined over a period of time alongside elements of my cognitive functioning.  

I believe the decline to have been rapid in onset but feel that it has plateaued in the last year or so.

I have a general disconnected feeling with events in the recent past as I struggle to recall key information.  I would describe it as being in a fog.  If prompted by an outside source I can recall most information that would have otherwise been forgotten.

The problem appears particularly acute in terms of my episodic memory.

Information learned before I noticed an impairment appears less affected 

My appreciation of concepts and ideas is less noticeably affected.

My visual memory is less noticeably affected.

I liken the process of search and retrieval to scanning a black hole - I know there’s something I need in there.  Sometimes it emerges, sometimes not.  It takes much longer than it used to.

Information I have forgotten, in reality for me, ceases to exist.  When prompted I can usually recall those things I had previously been unaware of forgetting (e.g., going to the cinema last week).  This leads me to believe that the impairment is related to the mechanism of recall rather than an issue with absorption.

Some Examples:

Disjointed, spoken discourse.  

My recall of vocabulary is distinctly affected.  It may take five to ten seconds (if at all) to recall a particular word or turn of phrase needed to make my point succinctly (as I would have previously without issue).  I find myself using simpler, less efficient and more readily available words to fill in the gaps as they arise.

My ability to remember detailed information (names, times, dates etc.) is poor.  E.g., being aware I have an appt. but unable to recall the date or time after told only minutes earlier.

Increased occurrence of getting lost whilst driving.  Difficulty in remembering routes I may have driven three or four times previously. Missing exit junctions on motorways etc.  

Difficulty dealing with multiple tasks whilst at work - if interrupted I will often forget to return to a task.  This is linked to my ability to manage tasks internally (e.g., whilst prioritising the day’s work in my mind I will often struggle to recall the first task by the time I have reached the third or fourth).

Some of the above examples appear to be less noticeable within 20mins of taking my prescribed dose of Physeptone - particularly my ability to recall vocabulary and speak articulately (although this may be due to the mild euphoric effect it has)..

Associated Effects:

A marked loss of self confidence in relation to my intellect.

A loss of confidence in my professional abilities.

Increased note taking whilst at work and home.

Avoidance of circumstances and situations that may reveal the inadequacies of my memory (in particular, professionally).

Avoidance of learning new tasks.

Overcompensation.

Reduced motivation.

Fear of continued degradation.

My NHS GP has been excellent but is unable to find any physical or mental cause to date.  The surgury and local hospital carried out the following tests:   full blood screen (x2), MRI brain scan, review with phsycologist, demetia memory tests (simple and detailed)).

If there are any readers who have anything to offer I would greatly appreciate your help (if only to know that there are others with similar symptoms).

Many thanks.

S 

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