[Descriptive study of behavioural disorders in mild cognitive impairment]
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Updated: Aug 26, 2026
A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
M Baquero1, R Blasco, A Campos-García
1Unidad de Neuropsicología y Demencias, Servicio de Neurología, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, España. baquero@mail.ono.es
Introduction:
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as an abnormality in cognitive function not provoking a noticeable disability in activities of daily living in the affected person. In a group of patients with MCI, we propose to observe and to quantify the presence of behavioral disorders, using the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI).
Patients And Methods:
NPI is a known instrument in evaluation of this kind of disorders in patients with dementia, and it is a semi structured interview with a relevant informer or relative to the patient. NPI was applied to a series of 100 cases (61 women and 39 men) of MCI, diagnosed as usual in our settings. Mean age was 74.3 +/- 10 years, and mean MEC (Spanish modified version of MMSE) 25.57 +/- 4.2 (over a maximum of 35 points).
Results:
Most prevalent disorder was depression, in 36 % of cases, and other frequent findings were irritability (35%), anxiety (24%) and apathy (19%). In some cases, agitation (4%), abnormal motor behavior (3%) and delusions (1%) were detected. Hallucination, disinhibition and euphoria or elation were not detected in this series.
Conclusion:
Data show a certain similarity with occidental culture environment, globally considered. The presence of behavioral and psychological disorders in patients with MCI could be a marker for later development of dementia. NPI can be a usable tool when detection and evaluation of these symptoms is required.
Insights
Behavioral disorders like depression and irritability are common in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). These symptoms, assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), may indicate a future risk of dementia.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Geriatrics
- Psychiatry
Context:
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects daily living without causing significant disability.
- Behavioral and psychological disorders (BPSDs) are increasingly recognized in MCI patients.
- Understanding BPSDs in MCI is crucial for early detection and intervention.
Purpose:
- To quantify the prevalence of behavioral disorders in patients with MCI using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI).
- To assess the utility of the NPI in evaluating BPSDs in an MCI cohort.
- To explore potential links between BPSDs in MCI and later dementia development.
Summary:
- The study applied the NPI to 100 MCI patients (mean age 74.3 years).
- Depression (36%), irritability (35%), anxiety (24%), and apathy (19%) were the most prevalent disorders.
- Agitation, abnormal motor behavior, and delusions were less common; hallucinations and euphoria were not detected.
Impact:
- Findings suggest BPSDs are common in MCI, similar to Western populations.
- The NPI is a valuable tool for detecting and evaluating BPSDs in MCI.
- Identifying BPSDs in MCI may serve as an early marker for dementia progression.
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