NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS IN AMNESTIC AND SUBCORTICAL VASCULAR MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has emerged as an identifiable condition and in many cases is a transitional state preceding diagnosable Alzheimer disease (AD) and Subcortical Vascular dementia (SVaD). The aim of this study was to define the neuropsychiatric features of the amnestic MCI and compare with subcortical vascular MCI (svMCI). Patients with subcortical vascular cognitive impairment can be isolated using criteria modified from those of Erkinjunti et al. for SVaD. We used new criteria of MCI (MCI-R) subclassifying amnestic MCI.The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was used to assess individual mean score of NPI symptoms. 155 subjects was analyzed: 115 were classified as a MCI and 40 svMCI. Subjects with subcortical vascular MCI were more compromised than those with amnestic MCI on global cognitive function. About 70% of MCI patients had some neuropsychiatric symptoms evaluated with the NPI. A significantly higher mean score of depression and anxiety has been observed in the amnestic MCI group compared with the subcortical vascular MCI group. Neuropsychiatirc symptoms occur in the majority of persons with MCI and may be the earliest manifestation of different disease. A significantly higher mean score of depression and anxiety has been observed in the amnestic MCI group compared with the subcortical vascular MCI group. These results are derived from a limited clinical sample and require confirmation in longtudinal community-based investigation.