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

Published on: January 11, 2020

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Frailty and Risk of Dementia in Mild Cognitive Impairment Subtypes

David D Ward1,2, Lindsay M K Wallace1,3, Kenneth Rockwood1,4,5

  • 1Geriatric Medicine Research, Centre for Health Care of the Elderly, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, NS, Canada.

Annals of Neurology
|March 11, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Frailty significantly increases dementia risk in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This risk is notably higher for non-amnestic MCI (na-MCI) compared to amnestic MCI (a-MCI) subtypes.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Gerontology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia.
  • The risk factors for progressing to dementia may differ across MCI subtypes, such as amnestic MCI (a-MCI) and non-amnestic MCI (na-MCI).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between frailty and the risk of dementia development in patients with a-MCI and na-MCI.
  • To determine if frailty poses a differential risk for dementia progression based on MCI subtype.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center database.
  • Analyzed a cohort of 2,799 individuals with a-MCI and 629 individuals with na-MCI.
  • Assessed the association between frailty levels and the incidence of dementia.

Main Results:

  • Increased frailty was associated with a higher risk of dementia in both a-MCI and na-MCI groups.
  • The risk of dementia progression due to frailty was significantly greater in the na-MCI subgroup compared to the a-MCI subgroup (interaction HR = 1.35, p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Frailty is a significant risk factor for dementia, even after the onset of clinically significant cognitive impairment.
  • The impact of frailty on dementia risk is more pronounced in individuals with non-amnestic MCI, highlighting the importance of considering MCI subtypes in risk assessment.

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