A systematic review of 73 studies showed that 65.8% confirmed significant higher-level executive function alterations in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment compared to healthy elderly.
Systematic Review (n=73)
Are higher-level executive function deficits more prevalent in elderly individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment compared to healthy elderly?
This systematic review highlights a strong prevalence of higher-level executive function deficits in elderly individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment compared to healthy elderly.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a moderate decline in one or more cognitive functions with a preserved autonomy in daily life activities. MCI exhibits cognitive, behavioral, psychological symptoms. The executive functions (EFs) are key functions for everyday life and physical and mental health and allow for the behavior to adapt to external changes. Higher-level executive functions develop from basic EFs (inhibition, working memory, attentional control, and cognitive flexibility). They are planning, reasoning, problem solving, and fluid intelligence (Gf). This systematic review investigates the relationship between higher-level executive functions and healthy and pathological aging, assuming the role of executive functions deficits as a predictor of cognitive decline. The systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA Statement. A total of 73 studies were identified. The results indicate that 65.8% of the studies confirm significant EFs alterations in MCI (56.8% planning, 50% reasoning, 100% problem solving, 71.4% fluid intelligence). These results seem to highlight a strong prevalence of higher-level executive functions deficits in MCI elderly than in healthy elderly.
Corbo et al. (Wed,) conducted a systematic review in Mild Cognitive Impairment (n=73). Mild Cognitive Impairment vs. Healthy elderly was evaluated on Significant higher-level executive functions alterations. A systematic review of 73 studies showed that 65.8% confirmed significant higher-level executive function alterations in elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment compared to healthy elderly.