Neuropsychiatric symptoms and cerebrovascular risk in non-demented elders: cross-sectional study using the mild behavioural impairment checklist (MBI-C).

Abstract

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) may represent early clinical manifestations of evolving brain diseases. Studies underpin the occurrence of NPS in the context of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and prodromal Alzheimer's disease, where symptoms referred to as 'mild behavioural impairment' (MBI) have been shown to predict conversion to dementia and to hasten cognitive/functional decline. However, the association between NPS and cerebrovascular risk factors has been poorly investigated, despite the high prevalence of the latter among individuals with MCI. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between MBI and cerebrovascular risk in a clinical sample of non-demented elders.