Progress on the research of scales of preoperative evaluation for mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Background Mild cognitive impairment(MCI) is a syndrome defined as cognitive decline is ahead of expectation for an individual′s age and education level but that does not interfere notably with activities of daily life. MCI has a high risk of developing into dementia. Objective Preoperative evaluation for high-risk patients is conductive to the implementation of the precision anesthesia. In other words, with proper anesthetic medicine and method, the progression of MCI can be controlled or even delayed. Content The author comprehensively reviewed the screening scales of MCI home and abroad. Trend Although the application of Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA) on poorly educated patients has drawbacks, this screening scale is still the best single scale for preoperative evaluation so far. In addition, the application of the Montreal cognitive assessment-basic(MoCA-B) and Mini-mental status examination(MMSE) combined with other scales will provide new thoughts for accurate assessment of the cognitive function of the MCI patients. Key words: Mild cognitive impairment; Preoperative evaluation; Scale of cognitive function