Mild Cognitive Impairment is defined as significant memory loss beyond that which would be expected due to normal ageing without the loss of other cognitive functions and refers to the transitional state between the cognitive changes of normal ageing and very early dementia1.
MCI is a common condition encountered by clinicians and is estimated to occur in 12–18% of people aged ≥60 year2.
MCI is heterogeneous but in approximately 50% of cases represents a transitional state between normal aging and dementi3.
It is estimated that people with MCI have a 3 to 5 times increased risk of developing dementia with about 15% of patients progressing to dementia each year4.
In 2001, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) set the following criteria for use by medical practitioners in determining if a person has MCI4,5.
A recent update of these criteria allows the person to be unaware of the memory problems and allows more complex activities, such as managing finances, to be affected.6
MCI causes cognitive changes that are serious enough to be noticed by the person affected and by family members and friends but may not affect the individual’s ability to carry out everyday activities.2
| Normal Ageing | MCI |
|---|---|
| Occasionally losing items in the house. | Misplacing/ losing items in the house keys/wallet more regularly so a fix is put in place – eg a hook at the front door. |
| Forgetting appointments or events occasionally and usually for a reason like fatigue or stress. | Having trouble keeping track of dates and appointments so now using a diary all the time/ white board in the kitchen. |
| Occasional trouble recalling the names of people or places. | Having occasional difficulty finding the right word for items usually known e.g. ‘carburettor’ for a car mechanic or ‘the bowers’ for a bridge player. |
| Going the wrong way in less familiar environments e.g. new city or large shopping centre. | Double checking the route even if travelled before. Errors in navigating to familiar places, not taking the most direct route. |
| Can tire more easily. | Unexpected irritability, anxiety, depression or apathy. |
| Takes more time to learn a new or unfamiliar process e.g. setting up a new appliance. | Struggles with more complex processes and needs assistance e.g. eBanking/credit card or smartphone updates. |
| Clinical examples provided by Associate Professor Mark Yates, Geriatrician. September 2022 | |
GPs play an essential role in the early detection and management of MCI with the possibility of stabilising and even reversing cognitive decline if treatable causes are identified and managed.
Early and accurate diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment provides a window of opportunity to improve patient outcomes using a personalized care plan including lifestyle modifications to reduce the impact of modifiable risk factors (for example, blood pressure control and increased physical activity), cognitive training, dietary advice, and nutritional support.3
Souvenaid® is a once-daily medical drink containing a combination of nutritional precursors and cofactors (long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, uridine, choline, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium), and was developed to support the formation and function of neuronal membranes and synapses.10
The European Commission-funded LipiDiDiet Clinical trial9 investigated the impact of Souvenaid® on patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (prodromal AD).
The daily consumption of Souvenaid® over a 3-year period significantly slowed decline in cognitive function, thinking skills, memory and brain atrophy compared to placebo9.
The authors conclude that the present study provides evidence for potentially altered disease trajectories supporting the positive effects of long-term multi-nutrient intervention in prodromal AD.9
Recent Australian recommendations on approaching the Detection, Assessment, and Management of Mild Cognitive Impairment have also supported the role of Souvenaid® for patients with MCI.7
“A medical food, Fortasyn® Connect*, has been shown in one 3 year randomised controlled trial to slow the decline in cognition and delay hippocampal atrophy in those with prodromal AD, and patients with MCI should be informed of these results and the availability of Fortasyn® Connect in Australia.7,9”
*Souvenaid® contains Fortasyn® Connect.
Please see below link to access the publication
Souvenaid® is a food for special medical purposes for the dietary management of early Alzheimer’s disease and must be used under medical supervision.
Nutricia products are intended for the nutritional management of diseases and related medical conditions and therefore should be used under medical supervision.
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