title: Communication Difficulty and Relevant Interventions in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Implications for Neuroplasticity.
abstract: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) represents a critical point for controlling cognitive decline. Patterns of communication difficulty have been observed in patients with MCI and warrant examination and management. The present systematic review examined (1) characteristics of communication difficulty in MCI by focusing on two domains: expressive and receptive communication, and (2) cognitive interventions that addressed communication difficulties in individuals with MCI. Of the 28 observational studies we reviewed, expressive and receptive communications were generally impaired in individuals with MCI, compared to their healthy counterparts. However, only one of seven interventions effectively improved communication related outcomes. We finished the paper with a discussion about how neuroplasticity influences communication abilities in individuals with MCI to inform the future development of interventions for communication difficulty.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Rochester Medical Center.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Rochester Medical Center ; AD-CARE Program, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lin
keywords: Cognitive intervention; Communication difficulty; Compensatory Scaffolding; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Neuroplasticity