In subjects with aMCI poor global cognitive performance at baseline, the worsening on executive functions and on functional status but not the worsening on memory functions are independently associated with the conversion to dementia of Alzheimer type at 1 year, follow-up.

Older age, higher education, poor global cognitive performance, higher levels of plasma total homocysteine are independently associated with the progression of memory decline while the prescription of ACE Inhibitors is a protective factor for cognitive deterioration.

In AD patients treated with AChEIs, SSRIs may exert some degree of protection against the negative effects of depression on cognition.

The study shows that hypoactive delirium is the most common subtype among hospitalized older patients. Specific clinical features were associated with different delirium subtypes. The use of standardized instruments can help to characterize the phenomenology of different motor subtypes of delirium.

The aim of this study was to verify the usefulness of Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog), in screening participants at risk of developing Alzheimer disease (AD) among populations with amnestic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI). 98 outpatients with aMCI were recruited. Participants were revaluated after 1 year: 44 (44.9%) were progressed to AD (progressors), while 54 (55.1%) did not convert (nonprogressors MCI). At baseline, cognitive performances were more impaired in progressors assessed by MMSE and by a neuropsychological battery. When tested with the ADAS-Cog subscale, the 2 groups of participants at baseline, progressors, and nonprogressors MCI, were significantly different regarding total score, memory, and nonmemory subitems. Considering a cutoff of 9.5 total score, adjusted for education, ADAS-Cog subscale showed a good performance (area under the curve = 0.67; sensitivity = 0.62%; specificity = 0.73%) in predicting conversion from aMCI to AD. Progressors aMCI were characterized at baseline by a greater cognitive impairment. ADAS-Cog subscale is a useful and brief cognitive assessment tool to screen aMCI participants converting to AD within 1 year.

MCI may be associated with mild parkinsonian signs, the severity of which are related to the severity of cognitive impairment, in particular of non-memory functions, and to a differential pattern of psycho-behavioral symptoms.

These data suggest that caregivers need psychological assessment and support in order to keep under control the level of burden and to help themselves be a better resource for their relatives.

In depressed AD subjects, AChEis treatment improves depressive symptoms evaluated by GDS. This improvement is independent of cognition enhancement.