title: Predicting Stability of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): Findings of a Community Based Sample.
abstract: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other forms of dementia. However, much heterogeneity concerning neuropsychological measures, prevalence and progression rates impedes distinct diagnosis and treatment implications.
  
  
  
  Aim of the present study was the identification of specific tests providing a high certainty for stable MCI and factors that precipitate instability of MCI in a community based sample examined at three measurement points.
  
  
  
  130 participants were tested annually with an extensive test battery including measures of memory, language, executive functions, intelligence and dementia screening tests. Exclusion criteria at baseline comprised, severe cognitive deficits (e.g. diagnosis of dementia, psychiatric or neurological disease). Possible predictors for stability or instability of MCI-diagnosis were analyzed using Regression and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Age, IQ and APOE status were tested for moderating effects on the interaction of test performances and group membership.
  
  
  
  A high prevalence of MCI (49%) was observed at baseline with a reversion rate of 18% after two years. Stability of MCI was related to performances in four measures (VLMT: delayed recall, CERAD: recall drawings, CERAD: Boston Naming Test, Benton Visual Retention Test: number of mistakes). Conversion to MCI is associated with language functions. Reversion to 'normal' was primarily predicted by single domain impairment. There was no significant influence of demographic, medical or genetic variables.
  
  
  
  The results highlight the role of repeated measurements for a reliable identification of functional neuropsychological predictors and better diagnostic reliability. In cases of high uncertainty close monitoring over time is needed in order of estimating outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen. Germany.
authors.forename: Sinika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellendt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen. Germany.
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Voβ
authors.affiliation: Donders Institute, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen. Germany.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wagels
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen. Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Goerlich
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen. Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drexler
authors.affiliation: JARA - Translational Brain Medicine, Aachen. Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical School, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen. Germany.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Habel
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000502:physiology; D007802:Language; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012372:ROC Curve; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Alzheimer dementia (AD); Mild cognitive impairment (MCI); cognitive functions; longitudinal survey; memory; neuropsychology