MULTILEVEL PREDICTORS OF DEMENTIA PROGRESSION IN MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT - A NATIONWIDE CASE-CONTROL STUDY - Research abstract

Sep 29, 2026

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) marks an early stage of cognitive decline with substantial risk of progressing to dementia. This study evaluated individual- and regional-level factors associated with new dementia diagnosis among nationwide MCI patients. Using nested case-control design based on 2017 MCI diagnoses, cases were incident dementia in 2022 and controls remained dementia-free. Individual predictors included type 2 diabetes, depression, Parkinson’s disease, and greater hospitalization days, whereas dyslipidemia, moderate physical activity, and adherence to dementia medications were protective. Regionally, higher proportions of older adults increased risk, while availability of elderly residential welfare facilities reduced it.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

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Pages2

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Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Key implications

1078 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3626 MULTILEVEL PREDICTORS OF DEMENTIA PROGRESSION IN MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: A NATIONWIDE CASE-CONTROL STUDY Song Hee Hong, and Hayun Lim, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents an early stage of cognitive decline with a high risk of progression to dementia. Since no effective drug treatments exist for dementia, identifying modifiable risk factors is critical. This study examined individual- and regional-level factors associated with dementia diagnosis among patients with MCI. Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted using nationwide health insurance claims data. The cohort included patients first diagnosed with MCI in 2017. Cases were individuals newly diagnosed with dementia in 2022 (n = 1,344), while controls were MCI patients without dementia (n = 5,376), matched 1:4 by age and sex. Individual-level variables included demographics, comorbidities, lifestyle, and medication use. Regional-level variables encompassed demographic aging indices, healthcare resources, and elderly welfare facilities. Conditional multivariate logistic regression was applied to individual-level factors, and multilevel logistic regression assessed regional-level influences. Results: Significant individual-level predictors of dementia included type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.14, 95%CI=1.00–1.31), depression (OR = 1.64, 95%CI=1.43–1.88), Parkinson’s disease (OR = 2.49, 95%CI=1.79–3.47), and hospitalization days (OR = 1.03, 95%CI=1.02–1.05) . Protective factors included dyslipidemia (OR = 0.79, 95%CI=0.69–0.90), moderate physical activity (OR=0.76, 95%CI=0.66–0. 87), and adherence to dementia medications (OR = 0.71, 95%CI=0.58–0.87). At the regional level, a higher proportion of older adults increased dementia risk (OR = 1.01, 95%CI=1.00–1.02), while greater availability of elderly residential welfare facilities was protective (OR = 0.96, 95%CI=0.92–0.99) . Conclusion: Both individual and regional factors significantly influence dementia risk among MCI patients. Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 1079 These findings underscore the need for integrated prevention strategies that combine clinical risk management with community-level resource planning to delay dementia onset and reduce its societal burden.

FAQs

What was the main purpose of the study?

To identify individual- and regional-level factors associated with dementia diagnosis among patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

How were cases and controls defined in the nested case-control design?

Cases were individuals newly diagnosed with dementia in 2022 (n=1,344), while controls were MCI patients without dementia (n=5,376), matched 1:4 by age and sex.

Which factors showed protective effects against dementia progression?

Protective factors at the individual level included dyslipidemia, moderate physical activity, and adherence to dementia medications; at the regional level, greater availability of elderly residential welfare facilities reduced risk.

Sep 29, 2026

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