Mild cognitive impairment - To treat or not to treat? [Leichte kognitive beeintr?chtigung: Ist dies die geeignete risikopopulation für eine intervention?]

摘要

Neurocognitive deficits that surpass changes occuring within physiologic aging are classified as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). MCI can be regarded as a risk syndrome for the development of manifest dementia. Patients with MCI present with variable degrees of organic and neuropsychological changes and show a heterogenous risk for conversion to dementia. By using specific neuropsychological and laboratory tests as well as methods of brain imaging MCI patients with early changes, occurring within the course of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, can be characterised in detail. It is primarily in these patients that early therapeutic intervention seems to be of some use. Possible therapeutic strategies are addressed in the article regarding their importance and usefulness for the treatment of patients with MCI.