Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is characterized by progressive deterioration of cognitive functions below normal aging whilst maintaining social and everyday functioning. Currently there is no known approach to prevent the evolution of MCI cases to clinically overt cognitive decline. MCI puts older adults at a higher risk of developing dementia (1 in 5 MCI patients are diagnosed with dementia) and at higher risk of premature mortality due to falls, slow walking speed and frailty. At present, 16% of the population is diagnosed with MCI. With the aging population across the world, it is crucial to find effective interventions that prevent progression to dementia. Up to date, studies focused mainly on pharmacological treatments including donepezil, huperzine A, cholinesterase inhibitors and more. Their effectiveness for improving cognitive function and preventing progression to dementia in this subgroup of elderly individuals is at the best limited. Non-pharmacological interventions have recently harnessed an increasing amount of attention in hope of proving more effective than pharmacology. These include, but are not limited to, lifestyle changes, non-invasive brain stimulation, cognitive training and alternative therapies such as acupuncture. Establishing effective non-pharmacological therapies is also aimed at tackling the medication adherence issue that occurs frequently in asymptomatic MCI cases. Non-pharmacological therapies are likely to have less physiological and psychological side effects. Additionally, some therapies such as cognitive training can create a sense of independence and increase the overall sense of wellbeing.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive overview of non-pharmacological interventions targeted at slowing down the progress of cognitive decline and preventing progression to dementia among MCI subjects.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is characterized by progressive deterioration of cognitive functions below normal aging whilst maintaining social and everyday functioning. Currently there is no known approach to prevent the evolution of MCI cases to clinically overt cognitive decline. MCI puts older adults at a higher risk of developing dementia (1 in 5 MCI patients are diagnosed with dementia) and at higher risk of premature mortality due to falls, slow walking speed and frailty. At present, 16% of the population is diagnosed with MCI. With the aging population across the world, it is crucial to find effective interventions that prevent progression to dementia. Up to date, studies focused mainly on pharmacological treatments including donepezil, huperzine A, cholinesterase inhibitors and more. Their effectiveness for improving cognitive function and preventing progression to dementia in this subgroup of elderly individuals is at the best limited. Non-pharmacological interventions have recently harnessed an increasing amount of attention in hope of proving more effective than pharmacology. These include, but are not limited to, lifestyle changes, non-invasive brain stimulation, cognitive training and alternative therapies such as acupuncture. Establishing effective non-pharmacological therapies is also aimed at tackling the medication adherence issue that occurs frequently in asymptomatic MCI cases. Non-pharmacological therapies are likely to have less physiological and psychological side effects. Additionally, some therapies such as cognitive training can create a sense of independence and increase the overall sense of wellbeing.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide a comprehensive overview of non-pharmacological interventions targeted at slowing down the progress of cognitive decline and preventing progression to dementia among MCI subjects.