Mild cognitive impairment that does not progress to dementia: A population-based study

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Mild cognitive impairment that does not progress to dementia: A population-based study

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society — Ganguli M, et al. | February 13, 2019

In population studies, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) does not usually progress to dementia in the short term, but rather stabilizes as MCI or returns to normal cognition, so researchers described MCI subgroups with various outcomes over 5 years. They defined MCI as Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) = 0.5 and dementia as CDR≥1. In a population-based cohort (N=1,603), three MCI subgroups (progressed to dementia [n=86], stabilized at MCI [n=384], or reverted to normal [n=252]), were compared to those who remained consistently normal (n=881). Compared to the normal group, patients in the MCI groups displayed worse subjective cognitive concerns, functional impairments, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms. The stable MCI and reverted to normal groups had more prescription medications. Diabetes and low diastolic blood pressure were associated with stable MCI. Stable and progressive MCI were noted in correlation with the APOE4 genotype. Stroke was noted to be linked with progressive MCI. These findings suggest different underlying causes. The progressors, unlike the reverters, displayed a profile largely characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

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Read the full article on Journal of the American Geriatrics Society