Memory Loss, Aging and Alzheimer Disease

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) - more than Normal Memory Loss

Mar 2, 2009 Cheryl La Rocque

Consistent memory loss is not just part of aging.

Experts suggest if you have trouble remembering the names of people you just met, trouble remembering the flow of a conversation, and an increased tendency to misplace things this could be a sign of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI).

Mild Cognitive Impairment lies between the normal memory loss of aging and the more serious condition of Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

More People being Diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment

According to researchers at St. Joseph's Parkwood Hospital, London, Ontario, there has been a significant increase in the number of people being diagnosed with MCI.

Dr. Michael Borrie, a scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute , and his colleagues at Parkwood Hospital have been tracking this trend among the out-patient population at Parkwood's Aging Brain Clinic.

Over 238,000 Canadians over age 65 have Alzheimer's disease. It is estimated more than 750,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with AD and related dementias by the year 2031 if a cure is not found, making the disease an urgent research priority.

Dr. Borrie said in an October 13, 2004 press release from Lawson Health Research Institute, that the Clinic is also seeing an increasingly younger and cognitively intact patient group than in previous years. "Research has shown people aged 65 or older with MCI have an approximately 10-fold increased risk of developing AD than people with normal memory."

Identifying the Predicting Factors for Alzheimer's Disease Vital

Dr. Borrie and his team are studying this high-risk population in hopes of identifying the predicting factors for AD.

This study will test whether serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), other biological markers, and clinical and neuropsychological assessment can be combined to measure the progression of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer's disease (AD).

The study will compare neuroimaging, biological, and clinical information from these participants, seeking correlations among the data that will track the progression of memory loss from its earliest stages.

The key challenge is to identify critical markers that respond to treatments aimed at slowing the progression of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, explained Dr. Michael Weiner, the study's principal investigator.

PET or MRI may be More Sensitive and Consistent Measure of AD Progression

Neuroimaging research has suggested PET or MRI may serve as a more sensitive and consistent measure of disease progression than the neuropsychological and cognitive assessments typically used in research and clinical practice.

The project is the most comprehensive effort to date to find neuroimaging and other biomarkers for the cognitive changes associated with MCI and AD, which could help researchers and clinicians develop new treatments and monitor their effectiveness.

Information about the participating research sites and co-investigators leading various aspects of research may be obtained from the National Institute on Aging Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center.

The study took place at approximately 50 sites across the U.S. and Canada. Investigators recruited in April 2005 about 800 adults, ages 55 to 90, to participate in the research -- approximately 200 cognitively normal older individuals to be followed for 3 years, 400 people with MCI to be followed for 3 years, and 200 people with early AD to be followed for 2 years.

Research is ongoing to discover a better understanding of the process of memory loss diseases and disorders, improved treatment options and new drug developments.

The copyright of the article Memory Loss, Aging and Alzheimer Disease in General Medicine is owned by Cheryl La Rocque. Permission to republish Memory Loss, Aging and Alzheimer Disease in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.