Mild Cognitive Impairment: Implications of Diagnosis

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) reflects the interim stage between normal cognitive functioning and more severe and irreversible cognitive decline that can be associated with dementia. Prevalence estimates suggest 12% to 18% of older adults (>60 years) develop MCI [1]. Risk factors for MCI include being male, older age, lower education level (i.e., lower cognitive reserve), diabetes and hypertension, apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 genotype, and sleep disorders [2]. MCI presents as four phenotypes: amnestic single, amnestic multiple, non-amnestic single and non-amnestic multiple, and classification depends upon the affected cognitive domain. MCI is a common precursor to Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders including dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, and vascular cognitive impairment [1].