Commentary on age-associated memory impairment, age-related cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Age-Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI) and the broader DSM-IV classification Age-Related Cognitive Decline (ARCD) both represent the well-documented phenomenon of declining cognitive performance with age. Objections to AAMI/ARCD often stem from inappropriate adherence to the “disease model” instead of recognizing that cognitive decline is a common behavioral consequence of brain aging. One unsolved problem, however, is the difficulty in assessing individual decline without longitudinal data. Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) are a heterogeneous group whose cognitive performance is between that of individuals with ARCD and early Alzheimer's disease (AD). Research confirms that MCI cases are at increased risk for developing AD within several years, and that cognitive and in vivo brain measures may help identify individuals at risk for accelerated age-associated decline or developing AD. Both ARCD and MCI are appropriate targets for pharmacologic interventions that might slow the rate of decline or delay the onset of AD.