Screening Older Adults for Cognitive Impairment

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force finds the evidence inconclusive to support or reject such screening.

Sponsoring Organization: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)

Target Audience: Primary care clinicians

Background and Objective

The prevalence of dementia increases from 5% among people in their 70s to 24% among people in their 80s. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) does not affect activities of daily living and is more difficult to quantify on a population basis — estimates range from 3% to 42% in older adults (age, ≥65). In this review, the USPSTF updates its 2003 recommendation (Ann Intern Med 2003; 138:925) on screening for dementia (but not MCI) in community-dwelling asymptomatic older adults.

Key Points

—Risks for MCI or dementia

Age is the strongest predictor for cognitive impairment. Other risk factors include cardiovascular disease…

Reviewing Author

Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MP

Disclosures

Grant / Research supportColorado Health Foundation