What history elements are useful in mild cognitive impairment?

January 01, 0001

What history elements are useful in mild cognitive impairment?

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can be a challenge to detect, and variably can progress to dementia. These Spanish researchers examined the general history items for their prognostic and diagnostic value through a cohort study. They prospectively looked at patients 50 years of age and up for cognitive decline and assessed demographics, medical and psychiatric co- morbidities, family history and physical exam findings. Diagnoses of MCI and dementia at onset and one year were made by a neurologist.

The researchers report: "One hundred and seventy-six patients were analysed of whom 81 (46.0%) had MCI and 18 (10.2%) had dementia at baseline. After 1 year, 8 (9.9%) MCI patients had progressed to dementia, but 48 (59.3%) had reverted to normal cognition. Old age, source of symptoms (informant or PCP), short duration and low education were associated with MCI or dementia at baseline. Low education predicted progression to dementia in MCI patients and less chronic medical conditions and younger age predicted reversion from MCI to normal cognition."

The researchers concluded: "Clinical data usually collected on medical history by PCP are useful to detect patients with MCI and dementia and also to predict MCI outcome."

This study identifies elements of a complete history that may be important in prognosis in the case of mild cognitive impairment.

For the full abstract, click here.

Family Practice 28(4):385-392, August 2011 © 2011 Oxford University Press
Mild cognitive impairment and dementia in primary care: the value of medical history. Javier Olazarán, Pedro Torrero, Isabel Cruz, et al. Correspondence to Javier Olazarán: [email protected]

Category: N. Neurological. Keywords: mild cognitive impairment, MCI, dementia, history, education, cohort study, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 12 August 2011

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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