Can We Delay Conversion from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer Disease?

Of individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, 10% to 15% annually go on to develop Alzheimer disease (AD). Vascular risk factors are associated with conversion to AD, but few studies have focused on whether treatment of these influences the conversion rate. Researchers in China examined this question in a 5-year follow-up study of 837 individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Progression was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Activities of Daily Living scale.

By the final year, 298 subjects had converted to AD. Converters were slightly older at baseline than nonconverters (69 vs. 64), less educated, and more likely to be female (63% vs. 54%) or a blue-collar worker (59% vs. 51%) and had higher frequencies of…