輕度認知功能障礙（mild cognitive impairment, MCI）這個名詞最早見於Reisberg等人所研發老人整體退化評估量表（Global Deterioration Scale, GDS），患者面臨較為複雜的工作任務或社會環境下會有問題，但簡易之日常生活並無影響。因此MCI可視為退化為失智症的過渡期；Hughes等人所設計的臨床失智評估量表（clinical dementia rate, CDR）中，CDR ＝ 0.5也常用來代表此早期變化；Mayo clinics Peterson等人所設計的MCI診斷標準，更是被廣泛運用。長期的追蹤研究顯示，MCI病患每年約有10-15%轉變成失智症，遠超過正常對照組的1-2%，因此MCI可視為退化為失智症的過渡期、或是危險因素。
Petersen RC. Mild cognitive impairment. CONTINUUM: Lifelong Learning in Neurology 2016;22:404.
Google Scholar
Petersen RC, Lundt ES, Therneau TM, et al. Predicting progression to mild cognitive impairment. Annals of neurology 2019;85:155-60.
Google Scholar
Petersen RC, Doody R, Kurz A, et al. Current concepts in mild cognitive impairment. Archives of neurology 2001;58:1985-92.
Google Scholar
Steiner ABQ, Jacinto AF, Mayoral VFDS, Brucki SMD, Citero VDA. Mild cognitive impairment and progression to dementia of Alzheimer's disease. Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira 2017;63:651-5.
Google Scholar
Petersen RC. Mild cognitive impairment or questionable dementia? Archives of neurology 2000;57:643-4.
Google Scholar
