Risk factors for incident mild cognitive impairment - results from the German Study on Ageing, Cognition and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe)

Objectives: To provide age- and gender-specific incidence rates of MCI among elderly general practitioner (GP) patients (75+ years) and to identify risk factors for incident MCI. Method: Data were derived from the longitudinal German Study on Ageing, Cognition and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe). Incidence was calculated according to the 'person-years-at-risk' method. Risk factors were analysed using multivariate logistic regression models. Results: During the 3-year follow-up period, 350 (15.0%) of the 2331 patients whose data were included in the calculation of incidence developed MCI [person-years (PY) = 6198.20]. The overall incidence of MCI was 56.5 (95% confidence interval = 50.7-62.7) per 1000 PY. Older age, vascular diseases, the apoE epsilon 4 allele and subjective memory complaints were identified as significant risk factors for future MCI. Conclusion: Mild cognitive impairment is frequent in older GP patients. Subjective memory complaints predict incident MCI. Especially vascular risk factors provide the opportunity of preventive approaches.