Mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment is the term applied to the cognitive state that lies between normal aging and dementia. There has been significant controversy around describing, defining and characterizing mild cognitive impairment. This review will cover current understanding of the condition and discuss clinical features, research strategies and future directions.

Keywords::

• alzheimers
• dementia
• early identification
• mental health
• mild cognitive impairment

Financial & competing interests disclosure

C Gordon has received hospitality from Eli Lilly and Janssen. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a heterogeneous condition with a current lack of consensus on pathogenesis, diagnosis and management.

• • Despite a lack of diagnostic and therapeutic consensus MCI remains a major public health issue and is represents an elevated risk of further cognitive impairment.

• • Research efforts should be focused on both standardized clinical diagnostic definitions and the development of objective biomarker diagnostic instruments. These are likely to be of optimal benefit as part of an integrated diagnostic strategy.

• • Development of more sophisticated cognitive testing batteries including Free and Cued Selective Recall Reminding Test and tests of executive function are likely to be of benefit.

• • Cardiovascular risk factors (including hypertensive cerebrovascular disease) and outcomes are likely to be at least partially associated not only with MCI but also its outcome.

Notes