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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
Subjective Cognitive Impairment Cohort (SCIENCe): study design and first results
Rosalinde E R Slot1, Sander C J Verfaillie2, Jozefien M Overbeek2
1Alzheimer Center and Department of Neurology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1118, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. re.slot@vumc.nl.
Background:
We aimed to describe the Subjective Cognitive Impairment Cohort (SCIENCe) study design, to cross-sectionally describe participant characteristics, and to evaluate the SCD-plus criteria.
Methods:
The SCIENCe is a prospective cohort study of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) patients. Participants undergo extensive assessment, including cerebrospinal fluid collection and optional amyloid positron emission tomography scan, with annual follow-up. The primary outcome measure is clinical progression.
Results:
Cross-sectional evaluation of the first 151 participants (age 64 ± 8, 44% female, Mini-Mental State Examination 29 ± 2) showed that 28 (25%) had preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) (amyloid status available n = 114 (75%)), 58 (38%) had subthreshold psychiatry, and 65 (43%) had neither. More severe subjective complaints were associated with worse objective performance. The SCD-plus criteria age ≥ 60 (OR 7.7 (95% CI 1.7-38.9)) and apolipoprotein E (genotype) e4 (OR 4.8 (95% CI 1.6-15.0)) were associated with preclinical AD.
Conclusions:
The SCIENCe study confirms that SCD is a heterogeneous group, with preclinical AD and subthreshold psychiatric features. We found a number of SCD-plus criteria to be associated with preclinical AD. Further inclusion and follow-up will address important questions related to SCD.
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