There is good evidence suggesting that onset of Alzheimer's disease is comm
only preceded by an interim phase known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Persons who experience this condition are increased risk for the developme
nt of Alzheimer's disease. Diagnosing MCI involves excluding other morbidit
ies and determining whether the patient meets predefined assessment criteri
a. There is no treatment for the prevention of MCI, but an understanding of
the condition can improve patient management. Several clinical trials are
underway to investigate potential potential MCI agents.