[Conversion from MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) to Alzheimer's disease: diagnostic options and predictors].
OBJECTIVE
The first part of this article deals with the concept of Mild Cognitive Impairment and its role in the pathogenesis of dementia. In the second part neuroradiologic diagnostic methods which can potentially help to predict the conversion of MCI to Alzheimer s disease (DAT) are discussed.


METHODS
We reviewed in PubMed published literature for reports which investigated diagnosis and progress of patients with MCI and DAT.


RESULTS
Patients with MCI older than 65 years have a risk of 10-15%/year to develop dementia in comparison to the healthy population with a risk of 2%/year. Neuroradiologic methods such as MR-spectroscopy, FDGPET, DWI and VBM are able to differentiate patients who will convert to DAT from patients who remain stable. Structural changes can be detected prior to clinically measurable cognitive deficits.


CONCLUSIONS
The neuroradiologic examination using MR- Spectroscopy, VBM, DWI or FDG-PET show early structural and functional changes which can predict a conversion from MCI to DAT.
Defranceso
Michaela
M
Department für Biologische Psychologie, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz.
Schocke
Michael
M
Messner
Hubert J
HJ
Deisenhammer
Eberhard A
EA
Hinterhuber
Hartmann
H
Marksteiner
Josef
J
Weiss
Elisabeth M
EM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity