Contents

Disclaimer

Oxford University Press makes no representation, express or implied, that the drug dosages in this book are correct. Readers must therefore always check the product information and clinical procedures with the most up to date published product information and data sheets provided by the manufacturers and the most recent codes of conduct and safety regulations. The authors and the publishers do not accept responsibility or legal liability for any errors in the text or for the misuse or misapplication of material in this work. Except where otherwise stated, drug dosages and recommendations are for the non-pregnant adult who is not breastfeeding.

Show Summary Details
Page of

Mild cognitive impairment 

Mild cognitive impairment
Chapter:
Mild cognitive impairment
Author(s):

Claudia Jacova

and Howard H. Feldman

DOI:
10.1093/med/9780199696758.003.0198
Page of

PRINTED FROM OXFORD MEDICINE ONLINE (www.oxfordmedicine.com). © Oxford University Press, 2020. All Rights Reserved. Under the terms of the licence agreement, an individual user may print out a PDF of a single chapter of a title in Oxford Medicine Online for personal use (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).

date: 03 July 2020

Within the cognitive functioning continuum from normal ageing to dementia three broad states can be distinguished: normal functioning for age, clear-cut impairment meeting diagnostic criteria for dementia, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which falls below normal but short of dementia in severity (Fig. 8.5.1.1.1). There is active debate over what MCI is, how to define and classify this state, and where to set its borders on the described continuum. Some definitions depict MCI as the tail-end of normal cognitive ageing whereas in other definitions MCI embodies the early clinical manifestation of Alzheimer Disease (AD) and other dementias. In 2003, the key elements of different MCI definitions were integrated into a consensus diagnostic and classification framework, thus establishing some common ground in a field that is still evolving. MCI has also been positioned as a potentially important target for early treatment interventions to delay progression to dementia. Nosologically, MCI is not currently included as a diagnostic entity in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) and the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision. The diagnostic categories of Mild Neurocognitive Disorder (DSM-IV-TR) and Mild Cognitive Disorder (ICD-10) are similar to MCI because they require the presence of cognitive impairment but these categories can only be assigned if a specific neurological or general medical condition can be identified to account for the cognitive symptoms. Much of the current condition of MCI does not fit as it has no aetiologic specification. Nevertheless, MCI is increasingly a presenting condition in primary and specialized settings of care. Medical practice guidelines have recognized MCI as a risk state for dementia and recommend careful clinical evaluation and monitoring of individuals with this diagnosis.

Access to the complete content on Oxford Medicine Online requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts for each book and chapter without a subscription.

Please subscribe or login to access full text content.

If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.

For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.