Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Assessment of Cognitive Functioning, Functional Autonomy, and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms.
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Dementia, in its various forms, is characterized by a generalized cognitive decline that can significantly compromise personal autonomy and quality of life. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), although not classified as an overt form of dementia, represents a condition at evolutionary risk and is considered a crucial transitional stage for the early detection of cognitive decline. Understanding the impact of dementia and MCI from a multidimensional perspective is now essential to fully grasp the repercussions of these conditions on patients' daily lives. The present protocol aims to investigate key aspects related to these disorders, with the objective of exploring cognitive functioning, the degree of impairment in activities of daily living, and the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach, the study seeks to enhance clinical management and patient care, promoting more effective, targeted, and personalized interventions.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 50 and 86 years. * Suspected or confirmed diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). * Referral to the neuropsychology clinic for initial assessment or clinical monitoring. * Absence of behavioral, psychiatric, or sensory disorders severe enough to significantly impair cognitive testing or completion of questionnaires. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of neurological disorders other than dementia or MCI (e.g., recent stroke, severe traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, atypical neurodegenerative diseases). * Unstable major psychiatric comorbidities at the time of assessment (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder in active phase, untreated severe depression). * Uncorrected severe sensory deficits (visual or auditory) affecting the validity of cognitive or functional assessments. * Use of medications with significant cognitive impact (e.g., sedatives, high-dose antipsychotics) not stabilized at the time of evaluation. * Prese