|
Mild Cognitive
Impairment
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
is a condition in which a person has
problems with memory, language,
or another mental function severe
enough to be noticeable to other
people and to show up on tests,
but not serious enough to interfere
with daily life.
Because the problems do not
interfere with daily activities, the
person does not meet criteria for
being diagnosed with dementia.
The best-studied type of MCI
involves a memory problem and
is called “amnestic MCI.”
Symptoms
- Research has shown that individuals with MCI have an increased
risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease over the next few years,
especially when their main problem is memory.
- Not everyone diagnosed with MCI goes on to develop Alzheimer’s.
- There is currently no treatment for MCI approved by the FDA.
- Results of a large, federally funded trial showed that 10 milligrams of
donepezil (Aricept) daily can reduce the risk of progressing from amnestic
MCI to Alzheimer’s disease for about a year, but the benefit disappears
within three years. The trial also showed that 2,000 international units
of vitamin E daily do not reduce the risk of progressing.
- The study authors say the results were not strong enough to support a
clear recommendation to treat amnestic MCI with donepezil, but it might
be reasonable for patients and their physicians to talk about the possible
benefits and risks of treatment on an individual basis
- Two other studies have tested galantamine (Razadyne) as a treatment
for MCI. These studies found no benefit, but the data showed an increased
number of deaths in participants taking galantamine compared with those
receiving the placebo.
More Information.
Mayo Clinic
Mild Cognitive Impairment
www.mayoclinic.org
An extensive article about MCI from
the consumer health information
Web site of the Mayo Clinic.
Mild Cognitive Impairment
PDF is available at
www.alznyc.org
 Previous | Next 
|
