Screening for mild cognitive impairment in Rosario (Argentina). Results by age, gender and educational level

Introduction: Unprecedented population aging implies an increase in chronic pathologies related to advanced age, including cognitive decline and dementia. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is recognized as a prodrome to Alzheimer-type dementia, since those who suffer from it are more likely to develop the characteristic clinical picture. Objective: The objective of the study was to explore the prevalence of MCI in the Metropolitan Area of Rosario, Argentina. Material and methods: An exploratory, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was carried out. A sample of 1075 adults aged between 50 and 93 years was surveyed, selected by a non-probabilistic criterion (by availability). Each participant was administered a clinical history survey and the Mini Mental State Examination, River Plate version. Results: The results reflect that 3.44% of the people examined (37 cases) obtained values potentially compatible with MCI. The reached educational level appears as the main predictor of the cognitive disorders, over age and gender. The lower lever showed a prevalence of 10,84%. Conclusion: Descriptive statistics are compared with homologous studies of the region. The scope of the study, the limitations of the Mini Mental State Examination and some possible alternatives are discussed.