Predictive value of mild cognitive impairment for dementia. The influence of case definition and age.
OBJECTIVE
In population studies, different mild cognitive impairment (MCI) definitions have been used to predict dementia at a later stage. This study compared predictive values of different MCI definitions for dementia, and the effect of age on the predictive values was investigated.


METHODS
This study was conducted as part of an ongoing longitudinal study into the determinants of cognitive aging, the Maastricht Aging Study.


RESULTS
MCI best predicted dementia when multiple cognitive domains were considered and subjective complaints were not (sensitivity: 0.66, specificity: 0.78). Age had a strong influence on the sensitivity of MCI for dementia (age 60-70 years: sensitivity = 0.56; age 70-85 years: sensitivity = 0.70).


CONCLUSIONS
The inclusion of multiple cognitive domains and participants aged 70 years and older leads to the best prediction of dementia, regardless of subjective complaints.
Baars
M A E
MA
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Public Health and Primary Care CAPHRI, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. lia.baars@np.unimaas.nl
van Boxtel
M P J
MP
Dijkstra
J B
JB
Visser
P J
PJ
van den Akker
M
M
Verhey
F R J
FR
Jolles
J
J
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve