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. 2010;30(3):238-44.
doi: 10.1159/000320137. Epub 2010 Sep 15.

Predictive utility of type and duration of symptoms at initial presentation in patients with mild cognitive impairment

Deidre J Devier  1 , Nicole Villemarette-Pittman, Patrick Brown, Gregory Pelton, Yaakov Stern, Mary Sano, D P Devanand
Affiliations

Predictive utility of type and duration of symptoms at initial presentation in patients with mild cognitive impairment

Deidre J Devier et al. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2010.

Abstract

Background/aims: To assess (1) the duration and symptoms present in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and (2) the impact of these variables on predicting conversion to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: Participants with MCI (n = 148) were assessed and followed systematically.

Results: Decline in memory was reported as the first symptom in 118 of the cases. Converters had more symptoms (e.g. language decline, depression), and the combination of decline in memory and in performance of high-order social/cognitive activities as well as disorientation more often than nonconverters (p = 0.036). In an age-stratified Cox model, predictors of conversion to AD were shorter time since onset of memory decline and lower baseline MMSE score.

Conclusions: Recent onset of memory decline with older age, decreased MMSE score, change in performance and disorientation indicate a greater likelihood of short-term conversion to AD.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Cumulative survival as a function of time since the onset of memory problems. The data display the 1st (0–18 months) and 4th (>51 months) quartiles, excluding the middle quartiles to illustrate the difference in survival between the short- and longterm ends of the data spectrum.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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