MCI Adjustment
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adjustment to test, risk and diagnostic disclosures in people with mild cognitive impairment: an observational cohort study
IRAS ID
230089
Contact name
Craig Ritchie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
This doctoral project examines how patients receiving a diagnosis at memory assessment services are informed about their memory problems. We want to find out whether the way information is conveyed to the patient about their brain health plays a role in how people adjust to their condition, feel about their impairment, and perform in cognitive tasks in the short and long term. The focus of this project is a state between normal healthy ageing and dementia called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Dementia is a major public health issue, and the number of people affected is projected to increase dramatically in the future. It is thought that people with MCI may be at higher risk of developing dementia though the conversion rate is uncertain and it is difficult to identify those patients with MCI who are indeed at a higher risk of progressing on to dementia. This means there is a lot of uncertainty that needs to be explained to the patient in a manner that is beneficial and brings the least stress, which might in itself be bad for brain health.
All patients who are referred to memory assessment services across Lothian and Fife and whose initial assessment suggests mild memory problems will be eligible for this study. The participants will be followed up over 1.5 years after being informed about their memory problems by the clinical team and certain outcomes will be assessed to determine if the way information was disclosed to them impacted on longer term health and psychological outcomes.REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
18/SS/0013
Date of REC Opinion
6 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion