Mild cognitive impairment and normal aging

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents an intermediate zone of neurocognitive functioning that falls between normal age-appropriate functioning and dementia. During the past decade, research and clinical interest in MCI has burgeoned. Delineating the cusp between normal aging and MCI is of critical importance not only for accurate diagnosis but also for determining the earliest appropriate time-point to implement early interventions. This chapter will focus on a pragmatic approach to differentiating MCI from normal aging.