Home › Research › Mild cognitive impairment
Mild cognitive impairment: an overview
Petersen RC, Negash S.. CNS spectrums, 2008-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) refers to the transitional state between the cognitive changes of normal aging and very early dementia. MCI has generated a great deal of research from both clinical and research perspectives. Several population- and community-based studies have documented an accelerated rate of progression to dementia and Alzheimer's disease in individuals diagnosed with MCI. Clinical subtypes of MCI have been proposed to broaden the concept and include prodromal forms of a variety of dementias. An algorithm is presented to assist the clinician in identifying subjects and subclassifying them into the various types of MCI. Progression factors, including genetic, neuroimaging, biomarker, and clinical characteristics, are discussed. Neuropathological studies indicating an intermediate state between normal aging and early dementia in subjects with MCI are presented. The recently completed clinical trials as well as neuropsychological and nutritional interventions are discussed. Finally, the clinical utility of MCI, and directions for future research are proposed.
Key findings
- An algorithm is presented to assist the clinician in identifying subjects and subclassifying them into the various types of MCI.
- Progression factors, including genetic, neuroimaging, biomarker, and clinical characteristics, are discussed.
- Neuropathological studies indicating an intermediate state between normal aging and early dementia in subjects with MCI are presented.
- The recently completed clinical trials as well as neuropsychological and nutritional interventions are discussed.
- Finally, the clinical utility of MCI, and directions for future research are proposed.
Why it matters
This overview describes mild cognitive impairment as a transitional state between normal aging and early dementia, with an algorithm to help clinicians identify and subclassify it. It discusses progression factors and interventions but reports no new treatment or cure, so it offers context rather than a therapy.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (CNS spectrums) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | CNS Spectrums: journal h-index 117 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 669 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 33.5 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 28.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 24 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 90 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Selam Negash: h-index 22 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Mayo Clinic: institution h-index 1,606 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18204414) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Petersen, R. C., & Negash, S. (2008). Mild cognitive impairment: an overview. CNS spectrums. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1092852900016151
Vancouver
Petersen RC, Negash S. Mild cognitive impairment: an overview. CNS spectrums. 2008. doi:10.1017/s1092852900016151. PMID: 18204414.
BibTeX
@article{petersen2008-18204414,
author = {Petersen, R. C. and Negash, S.},
title = {{Mild cognitive impairment: an overview}},
journal = {CNS spectrums},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1017/s1092852900016151},
pmid = {18204414},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s1092852900016151}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 29.
Later studies that cite this one
24 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references. Showing the 8 highest-scoring.
Related studies in Mild cognitive impairment
Also tagged “assessment”
840 studies in the library carry the topic tag “assessment”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 840 tagged studies.