Outcome of Mild Cognitive Impairment Comparing Early Memory Profiles

Background Finding variables that predict decline or stability in persons with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is an important step in identifying subjects in prodromal stages of dementia. This study tests a clinical observation suggesting that aMCI cases with better-preserved recognition skills, despite similar delayed recall deficits, are more likely to remain functionally stable. Methods A cohort of 210 cases with aMCI, diagnosed with standardized criteria that had been followed up for 48 ± 12 months (range: 36–100), were divided into two groups according to their initial recognition memory discrimination index (DI) on the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (DI ≥ or Results Thirty-seven percent progressed to dementia. In the group with the higher DI scores (n = 107), only 21.5% of the cases converted, compared with 52.4% of lower scorers (n = 103; Fisher's test: p Conclusions The aMCI patients with better-preserved recognition at baseline have a more benign prognosis. Detection of these cases may aid in isolating other aMCI cases that are already in prodromal stages of AD and in selecting more homogeneous groups for clinical trials.