| Cognition is the process of thinking, learning and remembering. Cognitive difficulties in the elderly---whether due to normal aging or to more progressive decline processes---are very rapidly becoming a major human health problem on a worldwide basis.; Recent research has identified a transitional stage between normal aging and very early Alzheimer's disease (AD) that is now termed Mild Cognitive Impairment or MCI. Mild cognitive impairment refers to the clinical state where a person is mildly cognitive impaired (most often with a memory complaint) but is not considered demented.; Qualitative similarities between the very mild cognitive decline associated with brain aging and the impairment patterns associated with early Alzheimer's disease (AD) make accurate and prompt diagnosis of the exact nature of the decline very difficult. Since Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with a slow, gradual progression and an undeterminable onset of cognitive impairment and other clinical symptoms, distinct parameters between normal age-related cognitive decline and the symptoms of very early AD are not readily identifiable. The field of study of aging and dementia is now focusing on the characterization of the earliest stages of cognitive impairment in the aging population. This thesis analyzes in detail the issues involved in mild cognitive impairment, examines MCI's relevance as a possible precursor to Alzheimer's disease and details the importance of the early recognition of noticeable cognitive decline in the aging process. Recommendations for future research and personal endnotes are included. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
