Background: Evidence from longitudinal studies points to the syndromic continuum of dementia. Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are at increased risk of progressing to dementia over time, as well as older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Objective: To assess the impact of treating reversible causes of dementia on the outcome of patients with cognitive decline. Methods: Data were collected between 2017 and 2020 (mean follow-up = 44.52 ±6.85 months) in primary health care in Patos de Minas, MG. Subjects were screened using the MMSE, Figure Memory Test, Verbal Fluency, Clock Drawing Test, Geriatric Depression Scale, Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, and the Functional Activities Questionnaire. Results: Of 15 patients with SCD, 26.7% progressed to MCI. Of 45 patients with MCI, 13.4% progressed to dementia, 4.4% died and 26.7% regressed to SCD. Of 31 individuals with dementia, 6.5% regressed to SCD, 22.6% regressed to MCI and 19.4% died. Clinical improvement can be explained by the treatment of reversible causes, such as hypothyroidism, hypovitaminosis B12, and mood and anxiety disorders. Conclusion: Two-thirds of people who meet the criteria for MCI do not convert to dementia during the follow-up. These results reinforce the need of adequate screening and treatment of reversible causes of dementia in the primary care.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.