認知症と軽度認知障害

Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: An Overview

Point

・認知症や軽度認知障害（MCI）の診断は，認知機能スコアだけではなく生活機能を含め総合的に行う．

・MCIの進行抑制には，非薬物・薬物療法による早期対応が鍵となる．

・ADL維持・QOL向上のため，患者本人や家族介護者に対する診断後支援の充実が必須である．

　Dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are common and increasingly encountered clinical syndromes in neurology and neurosurgery, especially in an aging society. With Japan undergoing a rapid demographic shift, addressing cognitive decline in older adults has become an urgent public health concern. This review provides an overview of dementia and MCI, focusing on the epidemiology, definition, etiology, disease progression, diagnosis, treatment, and post-diagnostic support. Through this discussion, we aim to offer practical insights for neurosurgeons and other specialists caring for patients with cognitive impairment.