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A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
12:18

A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Published on: January 11, 2020

Neuropathological profile of mild cognitive impairment from a population perspective

Blossom C M Stephan1, Fiona E Matthews, Sally Hunter

  • 1Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK. bcms2@cam.ac.uk

Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders
|September 28, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) neuropathology is complex, showing trends in Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular disease (VD) markers. Both AD and non-AD pathologies are potential targets for MCI intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Neuropathology
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • Cognitive Aging

Background:

  • The neuropathological basis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its position between normal aging and dementia remain unclear.
  • Understanding the initiating factors versus secondary changes in MCI is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.
  • Current MCI classifications include amnestic, nonamnestic, and multidomain subtypes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if the neuropathological profile of MCI is intermediate between normal cognition and dementia.
  • To investigate the prevalence of Alzheimer disease (AD) and vascular disease (VD) pathologies in individuals with MCI.
  • To identify potential intervention targets for MCI.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of an unbiased, population-based cohort of brain donors.
  • Classification of individuals into normal cognition, MCI, and dementia groups, matched for age, sex, and education.
  • Assessment of neuropathological profiles, including markers for AD (neuritic plaques) and VD (infarcts, small vessel disease), and brain atrophy.

Main Results:

  • A significant linear trend was observed in the odds of neuritic plaques, atrophy, infarcts, and small vessel disease with increasing cognitive impairment.
  • In the MCI group (n=10), neuropathological findings included normal (10%), VD (10%), AD (10%), mixed AD/VD (40%), and other pathologies.
  • MCI is characterized by complex and mixed pathologies, not solely pure AD or VD.

Conclusions:

  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) exhibits a neuropathological profile that is intermediate between normal aging and dementia.
  • The cognitive impairment in MCI arises from multiple contributing factors, including both Alzheimer disease and non-Alzheimer disease pathologies.
  • Both AD and non-AD pathologies represent viable targets for therapeutic interventions in MCI.

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