Health-Seeking Behavior and Its Determinants Among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: From Symptom Recognition to Self-Care

Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia, where timely recognition and appropriate health-seeking behavior may help delay cognitive decline. Although both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions show potential benefits, the utilization of healthcare services among older adults with MCI remains inadequate. This study examined health-seeking behavior-including symptom recognition, medical treatment, standardized treatment, and self-care at home-its determinants, and potential strategies to promote proactive care-seeking. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with MCI. Health-seeking behavior was assessed using a structured questionnaire based on Andersen’s Behavioral Model. Data on MCI-related knowledge, social support, activities of daily living (ADL), and sociodemographic and health characteristics were also collected. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics and behavioral patterns. Independent-samples t tests and chi-square tests examined group differences, and variables significant at P  < 0.05 were entered into multivariate logistic regression models to identify determinants of each behavior type. Results A total of 244 older adults with MCI were included. Only 13.1% actively sought medical treatment, while most were diagnosed passively during clinical visits or community screening. Standardized treatment was reported in 12.7%, and 25.4% engaged in self-care at home. Urban residence, medical payment method, diagnosing institution, and MoCA scores were significantly associated with medical treatment behavior. Urban residents were more likely to seek care ( OR  = 7.45, P  = 0.01), while individuals using medical insurance were less likely to do so compared with self-paying participants ( OR  = 0.26, P  = 0.04). Participants diagnosed in tertiary hospitals were more likely to seek treatment ( OR  = 11.07, P  = 0.02), whereas higher MoCA scores were negatively associated with medical consultation ( P  = 0.001). Similar patterns were observed for standardized treatment. For self-care behavior, gender, education level, and transportation mode were key predictors. Conclusions Health-seeking behavior among older adults with MCI remains suboptimal, with very low rates of active care-seeking and standardized treatment adherence. Urban-rural disparities, cognitive status, healthcare accessibility, and socioeconomic characteristics significantly influence behavioral patterns. Targeted health education, community-based cognitive screening, and supportive healthcare policies are urgently needed to improve early recognition, diagnosis, and long-term management of MCI, potentially delaying its progression to dementia.