Incidence and risk factors associated with progression to mild cognitive impairment among middle-aged and older adults

OBJECTIVE: We performed this longitudinal 2-year follow-up study to determine the incidence and risk factors associated with MCI in middle-aged and older adults. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This communi-ty-based longitudinal study was conducted in adults aged & GE; 50 years with normal cognitive function in Shanghai community, China, over a period of two years. Information about the so-cio-demographic, behavioral, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters was obtained at the baseline and cognitive function was assessed at the end of the follow-up period using the Mon-treal cognitive assessment tool. RESULTS: A total of 985 participants aged & GE; 50 years were included in the analysis. Inci-dence of MCI during the 2-year follow-up pe-riod among the study participants was 26.7% (95% CI: 24.0%-29.6%). Participants with lower level of education [primary -adjusted RR=2.79 (95% CI: 1.38-5.64 and secondary -adjusted RR=1.62 (95% CI: 1.17-2.24)], with history of cerebral infarction (adjusted RR=1.49; 95% CI: 1.05-2.12), history of cerebral hemorrhage (ad-justed RR=3.20; 95% CI: 1.22-8.40) were found to have significantly higher risk of MCI. Regu-lar tea consumption was associated with signifi-cantly reduced risk of MCI development (adjust-ed RR=0.69; 95% CI: 0.49-0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Our study found that one in four participants developed MCI during the 2-year follow-up period. Lower educational lev-el, history of cerebral infarction, cerebral hemor-rhage and tea consumption were significant de- terminants of MCI incidence. The target groups identified in this study should be closely mon-itored with regular follow-up investigations for early diagnosis and appropriate management of the condition.