Prevalence of Multiple Chronic Conditions in Older Adults with Undiagnosed Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Primary Care

Abstract

Background: Most adults aged ≥65 years live with multiple chronic conditions (MCC), and nearly one in four have recognized or unrecognized Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), including an estimated 7.2 million Americans. Together, MCC and ADRD increase treatment complexity, medication burden, and the risk of adverse outcomes. Among patients who meet clinical criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or ADRD but lack a formal diagnosis, MCC burden remains unclear. This study examined the association between MCC burden and undiagnosed MCI and ADRD in a diverse cohort of older adults in primary care. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 324 adults aged ≥65 from primary care clinics in Indiana and South Florida (2021–2023), as part of a larger ADRD detection study. Patients without documented MCI or ADRD completed standardized cognitive assessments. Cognitive status (normal, MCI, ADRD) was determined by interdisciplinary consensus. Chronic conditions and medications were extracted from electronic health records. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association between MCC profiles and cognitive status. Results: Among 324 older adults, 51.9% were determined to have MCI and 8% ADRD. Patients with MCI and ADRD had more chronic conditions (mean = 5–6) and medications (mean = 4–5) than those with normal cognition (p < 0.001). Anticholinergic use was more common in the MCI (23.8%) and ADRD (23.1%) groups than in those with normal cognition (10.8%). In adjusted models, MCI and ADRD were associated with higher odds of having more chronic conditions. Cerebrovascular disease was associated with both MCI and ADRD; diabetes, sleep apnea, and insomnia with MCI; and ischemic heart disease and insomnia with ADRD. Conclusion: Older adults with unrecognized MCI and ADRD experience substantial MCC and medication burden. These findings highlight the need for targeted primary care interventions that integrate cognitive screening, support MCC management, optimize self-management capacity, and promote safer prescribing.