Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome and the Risk of Incident Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

Abstract

Background: Epidemiologic studies have indicated an association of motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), a pre-dementia stage characterized by the presence of cognitive complaints and a slow gait, with increased risk of incident dementia. Objectives: We aimed to clarify this association using meta-analysis. Methods: We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases up to December 2022 for relevant studies that investigated the association between MCR and incident all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The random-effects model was used to determine a pooled-effect estimate of the association. Results: We identified seven articles that corresponded with nine cohort studies investigating the association between MCR and the risk of dementia. Pooled analysis showed that MCR was associated with a significantly increased risk of incident all-cause dementia (HR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.90–2.73) and AD (HR = 2.05; 95% CI: 1.61–2.61). Sensitivity analysis showed that there was no evidence that individual studies influenced the pooled-effect estimate, verifying the robustness of the results. Conclusions: Our results confirm that MCR is an independent risk factor of incident all-cause dementia and AD. Future studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying this association.