Communicating mild cognitive impairment diagnoses with and without amyloid imaging

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Geriatrics
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) presents diagnostic and prognostic uncertainties for clinicians.
• Communicating MCI to patients and families can be challenging.
• Amyloid imaging offers potential insights but introduces new labeling complexities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide recommendations for clinicians managing patients with MCI.
• To guide the use of amyloid imaging in MCI assessment.
• To improve communication strategies for MCI diagnosis and prognosis.

Main Methods:

• Convened a workgroup of experts.
• Formulated clinical recommendations for MCI patient care.
• Reviewed literature on amyloid imaging in MCI.

Main Results:

• MCI diagnosis should validate patient concerns and clarify that impairment is abnormal.
• Amyloid imaging can aid in determining MCI etiology and prognosis for eligible patients.
• Clear communication of amyloid imaging limitations, results, and implications is essential.

Conclusions:

• Effective patient education and shared decision-making are vital for MCI management.
• Amyloid imaging can support clinicians but requires careful expectation management.
• Clear communication of scan results is critical for appropriate use of amyloid imaging information.