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Predictors of Transition from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Normal Cognition and Dementia
Jia Hong Gao, Lin Liu, Zifeng Yang, Jialing Fan, for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Behavioral Sciences, 2025-11-14
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a heterogeneous state between normal aging and dementia, with varied transition pathways. While factors influencing MCI progression are known, their role in cognitive reversal is unclear. This study analyzed 756 Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) participants, classified as progressive MCI (pMCI, N = 272, mean age = 75.10 ± 7.34 years), reversible MCI (rMCI, N = 52, mean age = 69.94 ± 7.98 years) and stable MCI (sMCI, N = 432, mean age = 73.34 ± 7.44 years) based on 36-month follow-up. We compared demographic, lifestyle, clinical, cognitive, neuroimaging, and biomarker data across groups and developed a prediction model. Patients in the rMCI group were significantly younger and had a higher level of education compared with those in the pMCI group. Memory, general cognition, daily functional activities, and hippocampal volume effectively distinguished all three groups. In contrast, Aβ, tau, and other brain regions were able to distinguish only between progressive and non-progressive cases. Informant-reported Everyday Cognition (Ecog) scales outperformed self-reported Ecog scales in differentiating subtypes and predicting progression. Multinomial regression revealed that higher education, larger hippocampal volume, and lower daily functional impairment were associated with reversion, whereas APOE ε4, poorer memory, and greater brain atrophy predicted progression (model accuracy: 78%). The results confirm the significant utility of hippocampal volume, education level, and daily functional activities for assessing baseline disparities and predicting reversion. This study highlights the differential contributions of cognitive abilities and brain regions on MCI reversal, advancing understanding of MCI heterogeneity and providing evidence for precise diagnosis and treatment in early MCI.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Gao, J. H., Liu, L., Yang, Z., Fan, J., & Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. (2025). Predictors of Transition from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Normal Cognition and Dementia. Behavioral Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111552
Vancouver
Gao JH, Liu L, Yang Z, Fan J, Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Predictors of Transition from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Normal Cognition and Dementia. Behavioral Sciences. 2025. doi:10.3390/bs15111552. PMID: 41301354.
BibTeX
@article{gao2025-41301354,
author = {Gao, Jia Hong and Liu, Lin and Yang, Zifeng and Fan, Jialing and {Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative}},
title = {{Predictors of Transition from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Normal Cognition and Dementia}},
journal = {Behavioral Sciences},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/bs15111552},
pmid = {41301354},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15111552}
}
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Key findings
- Patients in the rMCI group were significantly younger and had a higher level of education compared with those in the pMCI group.
- Multinomial regression revealed that higher education, larger hippocampal volume, and lower daily functional impairment were associated with reversion, whereas APOE ε4, poorer memory, and greater brain atrophy predicted progression (model accuracy: 78%).
- The results confirm the significant utility of hippocampal volume, education level, and daily functional activities for assessing baseline disparities and predicting reversion.
Why it matters
This study of 756 ADNI participants found that higher education, larger hippocampal volume, and lower daily functional impairment were associated with reversion from mild cognitive impairment to normal cognition, while APOE ε4, poorer memory, and greater brain atrophy predicted progression. These findings identify factors linked to MCI transition pathways but do not test a treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Participants272
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 39 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 41 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Behavioral Sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Behavioral Sciences: journal h-index 89 (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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 272 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 6 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Liaoning Normal University: institution h-index 173 (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 41301354) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 39 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 39 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 41 out of 100. |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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