Progress in the research of motoric cognitive risk syndrome / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

As the population ages worldwide,dementia patients increase at a high rate of 7.7 million each year,which has a huge impact on quality of life of the elder.It is not surprising,therefore,that early detection of individuals at high risk for dementia and the development of effective interventions are major public health priorities.There is increasing evidence that gait slowing occurs early in the course of dementia,precedes declines in cognitive tests,and is a strong predictor of dementia.Hence,incorporating gait performance into risk assessments is a novel and simple approach that can help improve dementia prediction.The motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR) is a predementia syndrome characterized by the presence of cognitive complaints and slow gait in older individuals without dementia or mobility disability.In addition,studies have shown MCR as a predictor of other negative outcomes in older adults,including disability,falls and death.However,the concept of MCR is still in its early stage and approach to the syndrome is not yet well established in China.This review aims to demonstrate the various aspects of MCR syndrome including its pathophysiology,diagnosis,epidemiology,and relationship with other geriatric conditions.