It’s long been known by the medical and scientific community that not all people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) will go on to develop Alzheimer’s Disease. We do know, however, that MCI is typically a precursor to all Alzheimer’s Disease cases. For patients with MCI, predicting their likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s Disease can be a critical piece of information indeed. Such an advance warning system can allow for adequate preparations and the application of appropriate therapies designed to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s for as long as possible.
Many researchers are exploring this predictability question and a UCLA research team has just announced their findings after more than 3 years of studying this area. What they found was that those with MCI showing identifiable but subtle changes in their brain structure, later went on to develop Alzheimer’s Disease.
With 10% of all those over 65 expected to develop Alzheimer’s Disease (and a significant higher percentage for people in this group who are diagnosed with MCI) these findings can play a big role in determining how we diagnose, treat, and plan the care for these patients. You can read more about these important findings