PLoS ONE (Jan 2016)

Weight Loss Predicts Progression of Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer's Disease.

  • Ilaria Cova,
  • Francesca Clerici,
  • Annalia Rossi,
  • Valentina Cucumo,
  • Roberta Ghiretti,
  • Laura Maggiore,
  • Simone Pomati,
  • Daniela Galimberti,
  • Elio Scarpini,
  • Claudio Mariani,
  • Barbara Caracciolo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151710
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 3
p. e0151710

Abstract

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BACKGROUND:Weight loss is common in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and it could be a marker of impending AD in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and improve prognostic accuracy, if accelerated progression to AD would be shown. AIMS:To assess weight loss as a predictor of dementia and AD in MCI. METHODS:One hundred twenty-five subjects with MCI (age 73.8 ± 7.1 years) were followed for an average of 4 years. Two weight measurements were carried out at a minimum time interval of one year. Dementia was defined according to DSM-IV criteria and AD according to NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. Weight loss was defined as a ≥4% decrease in baseline weight. RESULTS:Fifty-three (42.4%) MCI progressed to dementia, which was of the AD-type in half of the cases. Weight loss was associated with a 3.4-fold increased risk of dementia (95% CI = 1.5-6.9) and a 3.2-fold increased risk of AD (95% CI = 1.4-8.3). In terms of years lived without disease, weight loss was associated to a 2.3 and 2.5 years earlier onset of dementia and AD. CONCLUSIONS:Accelerated progression towards dementia and AD is expected when weight loss is observed in MCI patients. Weight should be closely monitored in elderly with mild cognitive impairment.