Mild Cognitive Impairment in Hispanic Americans: An Overview of the State of the Science

The identification of persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is becoming a priority in healthcare as persons with this disorder are generally believed to progress to a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's disease (AD) at a higher rate than those persons without it in the general population. Despite the knowledge that minority groups, particularly Hispanics, have been shown to have an increased risk for the development of AD, there is paucity of research in the identification and progression of MCI in ethnic minority groups. This article will review MCI definitions, diagnostic criteria, and gaps that exist in the literature pertaining to MCI in Hispanic Americans. Central questions to be addressed by nurse scientists are given.