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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffThe strongest risk factors for MCI are:
- Increasing age
- Having a specific form of a gene known as APOE-e4, also linked to Alzheimer's disease — though having the gene doesn't guarantee that you'll experience cognitive decline
Other medical conditions and lifestyle factors have been linked to an increased risk of cognitive change, but the evidence for these risk factors is less clear-cut. These risk factors include:
- Diabetes
- Current smoking
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Elevated cholesterol
- Lack of physical exercise
- Infrequent participation in mentally or socially stimulating activities
References
- Preventing Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline. National Institutes of Health State-of-the-Science Conference Statement. April 26-28, 2010. http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/docs/alz/ALZ_Final_Statement.pdf. Accessed June 25, 2010.
- Petersen RC, et al. Mild cognitive impairment ten years later. Archives of Neurology. 2009;66:1447.
- Roberts RO, et al. Subjective complaints in mild cognitive impairment make a difference. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 2010;21:242.
- Wright JD. Mild cognitive impairment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 28, 2010.
- Winblad B, et al. Mild cognitive impairment — Beyond controversies, towards a consensus. Journal of Internal Medicine. 2004;256:240.
- Petersen RC. Mild cognitive impairment as a diagnostic entity. Journal of Internal Medicine. 2004;256:183.
- Essentials of a diagnostic workup. Alzheimer's Association. http://www.alz.org/professionals_and_researchers_14902.asp. Accessed June 30, 2010.
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