Proposed diagnostic criteria for mild cognitive impairment in Down syndrome population.

BACKGROUND

Despite presenting higher risk of dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not well defined in Down syndrome population.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to describe cognitive and neuropsychological patterns associated with MCI in Down syndrome individuals.

METHOD: Two groups of adults with Down syndrome (control and prodromal) were studied throughout 3 years. Two linear mixed models and a model including the variables that best predicted group membership were built.

RESULTS

Behavioural Regulation Index (BRI) (Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function test) and the model composed of BRI, abstraction and delayed verbal memory were the variable and model best predicting group membership, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Suggest a diagnosis of MCI when BRI is the earliest change perceived by caregivers and this is combined with low scores in abstract thinking, and when an amnesic pattern in delayed verbal memory is observed, but adaptive skills are preserved.