Patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease both demonstrated impaired awareness of cognitive deficits, with no significant differences in awareness levels between the groups.
Observational (n=99)
Is there a difference in the level of awareness of cognitive deficits between patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD)?
Subjective memory problems should not be a mandatory prerequisite in suspected dementia or MCI, highlighting the critical role of informant reports and clinical observation.
In this study we investigated impaired awareness of cognitive deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Very few studies have addressed this topic, and methodological inconsistencies make the comparison of previous studies difficult. From a prospective research program 36 consecutive patients with mild AD (MMSE above 19), 30 with amnesic MCI and 33 matched controls were examined. Using three methods for awareness assessment we found no significant differences in the level of awareness between MCI and AD. Both groups had impaired awareness and significant heterogeneity in the clinical presentation of awareness. The results demonstrate that subjective memory problems should not be a mandatory prerequisite in suspected dementia or MCI, which makes reports from informants together with thorough clinical interview and observation central when assessing suspected dementia disorders.
Vogel et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (n=99). Mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease vs. Matched controls was evaluated on Level of awareness of cognitive deficits. Patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer's disease both demonstrated impaired awareness of cognitive deficits, with no significant differences in awareness levels between the groups.