[Neuropsychological markers and factors associated with amnesic mild cognitive impairment]

Mild amnestic cognitive impairment (aMCI) is a syndrome in which there are cognitive deficits characterized by memory complaints, with the endophenotype with the highest rate of conversion to dementia, especially the Alzheimer type. The objective of the study was to establish neuropsychological markers and factors associated with aMCI.

Transversal descriptive study with case and control analysis, with a sample of 426 subjects selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. The average age was 58.8±5.5 years, 57.3% (244) of the sample were women, and 184 subjects (43.2%) had university studies. The clinical history shows that 47.9% (204) had a clinical history of hypertension, followed by symptoms of depression with 37.6% (160) and a tendency to isolation with 28.6% (122). Information on neuropsychological markers and associated factors was obtained through a neuropsychological assessment protocol.

In the aMCI group, the domains of: focused care (OR: 10.74 95% CI 3.386-34.11) were found as significantly associated factors with respect to subjects without apparent pathology; episodic memory (storage) (OR: 36.52 95% CI 15.14-88.05) and denomination (OR: 5.043 95% CI 1.816-14.00).

Focused attention, episodic memory (storage) and naming become neuropsychological markers associated with aMCI; likewise, social isolation is shown to be a factor associated with aMCI when compared to subjects with non-amnestic predominant mild cognitive impairment (anMCI).