title: Weight Loss Predicts Progression of Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer's Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Weight loss is common in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and it could be a marker of impending AD in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and improve prognostic accuracy, if accelerated progression to AD would be shown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess weight loss as a predictor of dementia and AD in MCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-five subjects with MCI (age 73.8 ± 7.1 years) were followed for an average of 4 years. Two weight measurements were carried out at a minimum time interval of one year. Dementia was defined according to DSM-IV criteria and AD according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Weight loss was defined as a ≥4% decrease in baseline weight.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-three (42.4%) MCI progressed to dementia, which was of the AD-type in half of the cases. Weight loss was associated with a 3.4-fold increased risk of dementia (95% CI = 1.5-6.9) and a 3.2-fold increased risk of AD (95% CI = 1.4-8.3). In terms of years lived without disease, weight loss was associated to a 2.3 and 2.5 years earlier onset of dementia and AD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Accelerated progression towards dementia and AD is expected when weight loss is observed in MCI patients. Weight should be closely monitored in elderly with mild cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cova
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Clerici
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cucumo
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghiretti
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maggiore
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pomati
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Fondazione Cà Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Fondazione Cà Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarpini
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, "Luigi Sacco" Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.affiliation: Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Health Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, and Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caracciolo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers