Using informant reports to detect cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuropsychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Early detection of dementia is crucial for intervention.
• Informant ratings can provide valuable insights into cognitive changes in older adults.
• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a risk factor for dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if informants detect greater cognitive change in patients with MCI compared to cognitively intact individuals.
• To determine the relationship between informant ratings of cognitive change and neuropsychological performance.

Main Methods:

• 109 older adults underwent clinical and neuropsychological assessments.
• Informants completed the Cambridge Behavioral Inventory-Revised (CBI-R).
• Participants were classified as MCI (amnestic/non-amnestic) or cognitively intact.

Main Results:

• Informants rated MCI patients as having significantly more change in overall functioning, memory, orientation, everyday skills, and motivation.
• Informant ratings correlated with poorer performance in visual memory, verbal learning, language, and psychomotor speed.
• Non-amnestic MCI subgroup showed more informant-rated mood changes than the amnestic subgroup.

Conclusions:

• Informants are sensitive to subtle early cognitive changes in MCI.
• Informant ratings align with objective neuropsychological performance.
• The CBI-R is a valuable tool for early screening and intervention in MCI.