Rapid Detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Primary Care

Primary care is an ideal setting for screening and detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) using brief cognitive assessment tools. Alberto Freire, MD, presented a stepwise algorithm for diagnosing and treating MCI, emphasizing the importance of functional assessment and deprescribing medications that contribute to cognitive disorders. Freire recommended picture-based tests and caregiver-oriented tests for cognitive assessment, as well as the use of the Mongil test for assessing activities of daily living. He also highlighted the need for comprehensive laboratory testing and neuroimaging. Nondrug therapies, such as cognitive training and rehabilitation, were emphasized, as there is currently no drug that is an improvement over nondrug therapies for MCI.