The course of mild cognitive impairment and the role of comorbidity

This dissertation studied the natural course of and the impact of comorbidities on cognitive decline in people suffering from mild cognitive impairment. The findings show an early decline in memory as well as a sharp or early decline in global cognition and executive control functions prior to the diagnosis of dementia being made. Furthermore, it was found that poor concentration/speed task results and a decline in the ability to perform such tasks are not indicative of the development of dementia. However, speed task results are linked to the severity of comorbidities. Comorbidities are likely to cause cognitive decline rather than result from an underlying neurodegenerative process.