Scientists develop new system for predicting memory problems

Scientists in the US have developed a new way to test which individuals may be more likely to experience memory problems as they get older.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, carried out an investigation involving 1,449 participants aged between 70 and 89, who had not been diagnosed with memory issues.

The recruits were required to take part in memory and thinking exercises every 15 months for an average of 4.8 years, during which time 28 percent developed mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Doctors devised a scoring system to determine how likely these initial memory problems were to turn into full-blown dementia, taking into account a variety of factors, including pre-existing physical and mental health conditions and age, to allow for a fair study.

They found that those with the highest scores were up to seven times more likely to develop memory problems as they got older, indicating that signs of such illnesses are already present in a person's body years before diagnosis.

Lead author of the research Ronald C Petersen commented: "Understanding what factors can help us predict who will develop this initial stage of memory and thinking problems … because people with MCI have an increased risk of developing dementia."