Modifiable Risk Factor Possession Patterns of Dementia in Elderly with MCI: A 4-Year Repeated Measures Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects a significant portion of the elderly population.
• Identifying reversible risk factors is crucial for preventing dementia progression.
• Understanding patterns of modifiable risk factors can inform targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify patterns of modifiable risk factors in elderly individuals with MCI.
• To examine the relationship between these risk factor patterns and cognitive outcomes over four years.
• To provide insights for interventions aimed at preventing cognitive decline.

Main Methods:

• Latent class analysis was used to classify nine modifiable risk factors in 789 community-dwelling elders (≥65 years) with MCI.
• Participants were followed for four years and classified as reverters or non-reverters based on cognitive function.
• Binomial logistic regression and repeated measures analysis were employed to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• The overall reversion rate from MCI to normal cognitive function was 30.9%.
• Five distinct patterns of modifiable risk factors were identified: low risk, psychosocial, health behavior, educational, and smoking.
• The 'low risk' factor group demonstrated a significantly higher likelihood of reverting from MCI compared to other groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Specific patterns of modifiable risk factors are associated with cognitive outcomes in elderly individuals with MCI.
• A 'low risk' profile is linked to a greater chance of cognitive recovery.
• These findings support the development of targeted interventions to mitigate dementia risk in this population.