Overview
Mild neurocognitive disorder (mild NCI) is a condition characterized by cognitive decline that is noticeable but does not interfere with independence in daily activities. Individuals with mild NCI have an increased risk of progressing to dementia.Diagnosis
Cognitive markers in the mild NCI stage are debated in their ability to predict dementia occurrence and incidence 1.
Specific cognitive domains assessed include global cognitive functioning, long-term verbal memory, complex attention, visuoconstructional ability, and language 1.Management
Interventions aimed at preserving or enhancing long-term verbal memory, visuoconstructional abilities, and language skills may be beneficial in delaying or preventing dementia onset 1.Key Recommendations
Better performance in long-term verbal memory, visuoconstructional abilities, and language in individuals with mild NCI is associated with a lower risk of progression to dementia 1. (Evidence: Moderate)
Interventions targeting the preservation or enhancement of specific cognitive domains (long-term verbal memory, visuoconstructional ability, language) may serve as potential therapeutic targets for clinicians working with at-risk populations 1. (Evidence: Weak)References
1 Raimo S, Gaita M, Cropano M, Ammendola L, Malangone D, Torchia V et al.. Cognitive markers of resilience to dementia in mild Neurocognitive Impairment: a meta- analysis. Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology 2025. link