Background: The significant variability across studies of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in rates of progression to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and reversion to normal cognition may be due to differences in specific neuropsychological tests and thresholds used to define MCI. Methods: We assessed 115 subjects with amnestic (AMN) or non-amnestic (NON) MCI on a standardized neuropsychological battery at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 16.4 months to determine the prevalence and persistence of deficits identified with specific tests. Results: The prevalence of impaired performance varied widely across tests. Deficits were more persistent in the AMN group than in the NON group. Baseline deficits in Visual Reproduction II and the California Verbal Learning Test were the best predictors of persistent memory impairment. Subjects who at baseline were impaired on multiple memory tests or had poorer overall memory performance were more likely to exhibit persistent memory deficits. Conclusions: The use of different neuropsychological tests and thresholds to diagnose MCI identified subsets of subjects with different rates of persistence of cognitive impairment. Standardization of the operational definition of cognitive impairment in MCI may result in more consistent predictions of progression to AD.

Keywords:
Alzheimer disease, Memory, Cognition, Dementia, Psychometrics
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel
2009
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.