Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and onwards progression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and onwards clinical presentation: The predictive utility of the Repeatable Battery of the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) & Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning System (DKEFS)
IRAS ID
251424
Contact name
William Toomey
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study aims to see whether the likely onwards clinical progression of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) can be predicted by using standardised neuropsychological assessment tools.
MCI is defined differently within literature, but is widely recognised as the reported and established impairment in one area of cognitive functioning, with no major impact on activities of daily living, and in the absence of dementia syndrome (Portet et al., 2006). Mild cognitive impairment prognosis has three potential trajectories for overall cognitive functioning, 1) to reverse, 2) remain static and 3) deteriorate. This could be caused by any number of potentially reversable factors likely to affect cognition such as long-term low-mood, excessive alcohol, or by medical conditions such as static vascular changes or prodromal dementia. It is therefore more difficult to predict the prognosis, and ultimately the course of treatment for those labelled as having MCI.
Existing research supports the predictive value of biomarkers and cognitive assessment in MCI prognosis. However, it has yet to be shown that routinely collected measures may provide additional insight into clinical trajectory, and as such, potentially be able to benefit clinical decision-making.
The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) and the Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning Scale (DKEFS) are both utilised as part of a routine assessment battery in the target memory clinic. Anonymised data from these routine assessments will be analysed and compared against diagnostic outcomes to determine whether there is predictive utility in the subtests associated with each measure. It is anticipated that a series of logistic regression analyses will help to determine any significant relationships.
A discussion of the findings will include potential explanations for the observed results, limitations of the study, implications for clinical practice and recommendations regarding future research.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
19/WA/0021
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jan 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion