De novo genesis of neuropsychiatric symptoms in mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
BACKGROUND
There is inadequate information regarding the neuropsychiatric aspect of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).


OBJECTIVE
To determine the neuropsychiatric profile of MCI, and compare this with normal controls and patients with mild Alzheimer's Disease (AD).


METHODS
Cross-sectional assessment of psychiatric symptoms in subjects that are enrolled in Mayo Clinic's longitudinal study of normal aging, MCI and dementia.


METHODS
The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was administered to normal control subjects, MCI subjects and patients with early AD. Individual NPI domain scores and total NPI scores were compared among the three groups after controlling for age, educational status, Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. Statistical analysis was performed by utilizing ANOVA, chi2 and Fisher's exact test.


RESULTS
Data were analyzed on 514 normal controls, 54 MCI subjects, and 87 subjects with mild AD (CDR of 0.5 or 1); females consisted of 60.3%, 53.7% and 57.5%; and, the average ages (SD) were 77.8 (1.95), 79 (4.6), 80.5 (14.6) respectively. ANOVA pair-wise comparison revealed that both MMSE and DRS differences among the three groups were significantly different at (p = 0.05). The total NPI scores were significantly different (p =0.0001, F = 107.93) among the three groups using ANOVA. Pair-wise comparison of individual behavioral domain of NPI showed statistically significant differences between MCI and normals; and MCI and AD (p = 0.001). Group differences on NPI remained after controlling for age and education at p = 0.0375 and p = 0.0050 respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The neuropsychiatric pattern is reminiscent of the clinical, neuroimaging and neuropsychological profile of MCI. It gives further credence to the view that MCI is indeed the gray zone, with overlap on both ends of the pole.
Geda
Yonas E
YE
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic-Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Geda.yonas@mayo.edu
Smith
Glenn E
GE
Knopman
David S
DS
Boeve
Bradley F
BF
Tangalos
Eric G
EG
Ivnik
Robert J
RJ
Mrazek
David A
DA
Edland
Steven D
SD
Petersen
Ronald C
RC
D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index