Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia ─ Definitions, Diagnosis, and Treatment

In 2011, National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer's Association joint task forces released proposed criteria for Alzheimer' disease diagnosis. These proposals included revisions to the nearly 30-year-old NINDS-ADRDA criteria for Alzheimer's diagnosis and added criteria for diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease. The same year the American Psychiatric Association proposed new criteria for major and minor neurocognitive disorders (the entities previously known as dementia and mild cognitive impairment, respectively). These new criteria reflect the research and clinical advances in identifying mild cognitive impairment and offer new opportunities for prevention, treatment, and management of neurodegenerative conditions.

A major focus of this book is on the mild cognitive impairment prodrome of the common dementias. In addition to discussing the most common neurodegenerative conditions, many rare neurodegenerative conditions are highlighted. Most chapters include an autopsy-confirmed case presentation from the authors' files. Following the case presentation, those chapters present current diagnostic criteria, epidemiology, neuropathology/neurophysiology, genetics, neuroimaging studies as relevant, associated clinical features, differential neuropsychological features and possible interventions for each disorder.

The pace of change in research and practice in the field of normal cognitive aging and dementia is increasing almost as fast as the median age of the population. The massive baby boom population bubble is currently entering the age of risk for neurodegenerative conditions. Neuropsychologists will play a major role in refining and applying these diagnoses, and in developing, testing, and refining interventions for these diagnoses, and in caring for this population. This book is intended to prepare neuropsychologists and others interested in neuropsychology to serve this fastest growing segment of our population.

Glenn E. Smith, Ph.D., ABPP/CN, is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and Professor of Psychology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN. He has served as principal investigator of the Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Education Core and is Associate Director of Mayo's Clinical and Translational Science Education Resource. Dr. Smith has had continuous research funding since 1994 and has authored or co-authored over 180 original articles on normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. He is past president of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology and of the Division of Clinical Neuropsychology of the American Psychological Association. In addition to supervising post-doctoral fellows, he maintains an active diagnostic neuropsychology practice. He led development of and directs Mayo's Dementia Behavior Assessment and Response Team and HABIT (Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking) program for persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Mark W. Bondi, Ph.D., ABPP/CN, is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Diego, and Director of the Neuropsychological Assessment Unit at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. He is recipient of a Mid-Career Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research from the National Institute on Aging. His NIH funded research centers on the cognitive and brain changes of individuals at risk for dementia, and he has published more than 120 articles, books, and book chapters. Dr. Bondi is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and National Academy of Neuropsychology, former Secretary APA's Division of Clinical Neuropsychology, and serves on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology and Board of Governors of the International Neuropsychological Society. Dr. Bondi maintains a clinical practice in neuropsychology, and he is an active teacher and supervisor for his institution's doctoral training, predoctoral internship, and postdoctoral fellowship programs.