The rate of conversion of mild cognitive impairment to dementia: predictive role of depression.
BACKGROUND
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a condition referring to the persons with cognitive deficits measurable in some form or another, but not meeting criteria for dementia, and who have an increased risk of becoming demented.


OBJECTIVE
To establish the rate of progression to dementia in MCI, to investigate the risk of conversion for amnestic vs multiple-domains subtypes, and to identify the predictors of progression.


METHODS
MCI (n = 105) individuals enrolled in a longitudinal study received annual clinical and psychometric examinations for up to a mean of 3 years. The diagnosis of MCI according to Mayo Clinic Petersen's Criteria was conducted by a panel of specialists.


RESULTS
After 3 years of follow-up, 23 of 105 subjects with MCI were diagnosed with dementia. 40 showed cognitive decline not dementia, 34 were stable and showed no cognitive decline or improvement, while eight showed cognitive improvement.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that conversion rate from MCI to DSM-IIIR dementia was 21.9% over a period of 3 years. The occurrence of depressive symptoms may constitute a predictor for those who are more likely to progress to dementia. The risk of conversion to dementia was higher among the subjects with an evidence of impairment extending beyond memory than with those who suffered only from memory deficits, and the subjects who converted to dementia in this subtype had significantly higher baseline plasma total homocysteine levels than non-converters.
Gabryelewicz
T
T
Department of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland. gabryelewicz@cmdik.pan.pl
Styczynska
M
M
Luczywek
E
E
Barczak
A
A
Pfeffer
A
A
Androsiuk
W
W
Chodakowska-Zebrowska
M
M
Wasiak
B
B
Peplonska
B
B
Barcikowska
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D012307:Risk Factors