The etiology of long term stable Mild Cognitive Impairment

 
   Lead Investigator:    Manu Sharma
   Institution      :    University of Calgary
   E-Mail           :    manu.sharma1@ucalgary.ca
   Proposal ID      :    1137


   Publications:


1  Sharma MJ, Varatharajah B, Wall A, Callahan BL
   Neuropsychological Differences in 10 Year Long-Term Stable Mild Cognitive Impairment and Converting Mild Cognitive Impairment
   2019   Abstract  National Academy of Neuropsychology 39th Annual Conference , 

   ACCEPTED





   Proposal Description:
   Adults diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) have a 5-10 annual conversion rate (ACR) to dementia, however approximately 10-25 of adults with MCI remain stable over 9 years. Most studies focus on the factors that can predict who will convert from MCI to dementia, but few studies focus on factors surrounding long-term stable MCI. Long-term stability suggests that cognitive impairment in these cases may be linked to a non-progressive, potentially reversible cause. The goal of this proposed research is to investigate non-progressive causes of cognitive impairment (specifically, vascular disease and psychiatric illness) in four groups: 1) long-term stable MCI, 2) those who convert from MCI to dementia, 3) long term stable normal controls, and 4) those who were normal at baseline but declined. While we acknowledge that vascular disease and psychiatric comorbidities play a role in increasing impairment and risk of dementia, we hypothesize that they primarily contribute to long term stable MCI in the absence of dementia biomarkers and neuropathology. The groups will be devised based on cognitive change between baseline assessment and last premortem assessment.                                                            Specific objectives are to:  1)Compare the cognitive profile (memory, language, executive functioning, attention, etc.) between the four groups listed above. We hypothesize that long term stable MCI will have cognitive profiles indicative of psychiatric or vascular cognitive impairment (i.e., more executive dysfunction and less memory impairment).                                                                    2)Compare subject health history (cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease,    traumatic brain injury (TBI), hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes,      depression, alcohol, smoking, sleep apnea, psychiatric disorders, medications, and age at onset of cognitive decline) between the four groups listed above. We hypothesize that cardiova