The Prevalence of Amnestic and Non-Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Its Association with Different Lifestyle Factors in a South Italian Elderly Population

Alessandro Oronzo Caffò,Andrea Bosco,Antonella Lopez,Elisabetta Ricciardi,Fabrizio Stasolla,Giuseppina Spano,Luigi Tinella

doi:10.3390/ijerph19053097

Abstract

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a transition stage between normal aging and dementia and can be useful to monitor the cognitive status of people at risk of dementias. Our aims were to investigate the prevalence of amnestic and non-amnestic MCI in a South Italian elderly population, and to identify socio-demographic, clinical and lifestyle factors associated with MCI. A cross-sectional retrospective population study on 839 community-dwelling participants over 60 years of age was carried out. Elderly people were administered a brief neuropsychological screening to identify their cognitive and functional status, and a questionnaire to investigate several socio-demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors. Prevalence estimate for MCI was 12.0% (95% CI: 10.0–14.5%), for amnestic MCI was 7.4% (95% CI: 5.8–9.4%), and for non-amnestic MCI was 4.6% (95% CI: 3.4–6.4%), for people older than 60 years of age. Logistic regression models, corrected for age, sex, and education, revealed a significant association of MCI with the following factors: age, education, intellectual activities, and topographical disorientation. On the other hand, education, clinical factors (e.g., depression level and perceived physical pain), lifestyle factors (e.g., smoking, alcohol, and leisure/productive activities), dietary habits, quality of life, and self-reported topographical disorientation were non-significantly associated with MCI. Prevalence estimates and the association of MCI and its subtypes with risk and protective factors were discussed in comparison with the most recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Highlights

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is known as a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia
Significant and positive associations were found between depression, age, and topographical disorientation measures, as well as between education and second language, physical, cultural, intellectual activities, egocentric, allocentric and total score at the Ego-Allo task (EAT)
The present study investigated the prevalence of MCI and its subtypes in a South Italian elderly population, as well as the association of those groups with several socio-demographic, clinical and lifestyle factors

Summary

Introduction

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is known as a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia. Following Petersen’s MCI classification, it is possible to distinguish four subtypes, amnestic MCI single domain ((aMCIsd); memory impaired only), amnestic MCI multiple domain ((aMCImd) memory impaired plus one or more other cognitive domains), nonamnestic MCI single domain ((naMCIsd); impairment in one nonmemory domain), and nonamnestic MCI multiple domain ((naMCImd); impairment in two or more nonmemory domains) [1,2]. These subtypes show differences in clinical outcomes. Both aMCIsd and aMCImd conditions are more likely to convert to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with remarkable differences in progression rates among them

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