NEUROBEHAVIORAL RESEARCH GROUP

Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an identifiable clinical condition between normal aging and Alzheimer Disease (AD) in which patients experience memory loss greater than expected for their age. Although patients diagnosed with MCI do not meet criteria for clinically probable AD, when observed longitudinally, a subset convert to AD at an accelerated rate compared to healthy age-matched individuals.  The purpose of these studies is to compare the functional course of anxiety in patients with amnestic (nondemented) MCI who subsequently progress to AD. Characterizing the clinical features of MCI is important for early diagnosis and intervention. Findings from these studies will help to clarify the boundary between MCI and early AD by identifying the earliest signs of emotional processing impairment between these populations.