4. Mild Cognitive Impairment

Question 1

What is the difference between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia?

Answer 1

MCI is an intermediate state of cognitive function between the changes seen in normal aging and those fulfilling the criteria for dementia amd pftem AD

Dementia refers to cognitive defects that affect daily functioning to the extent that there is loss of independence

Question 2

What are 7 factors that predict a more rapid progression to dementia?

Answer 2

1. greater impairment at baseline
2. carriers of the APOE epsilon 4 allele
3. MRI showing decreased volumetric measurements of the hippocampus
4. MRI showing larger ventricular volumes
5. hypometabolism in temporal and parietal regions
6. low levels of B-amyloid peptide 42 and elevated levels of tau protein in CSF
7. amyloid plaques in the brain

Question 3

What are potential treatments that can be used for MCI?

Answer 3

cognitive rehabilitation and an exercise program

Question 4

What is amnestic mild cognitive impairment?

Answer 4

clinically significant memory impairment that does not meet the criteria for dementia - these individuals will forget important info that they previously would have remembered, i.e. appointments, telephone conversations, etc.
-90% of those that progress to dementia from this subtype have more than 90% of the clinical signs of AD

Question 5

What is nonamnestic mild cognitive impairment?

Answer 5

A subtle decline in functions not related to memory, and instead affects attention, use of language, or visuospatial
This may be the forerunner of dementias that are not related to AD

Question 6

What may nonamnestic MCI be associated with?

Answer 6

frontotemporal lobar degeneration or Lewy body dementia