Relationship between vascular risk factors and mild cognitive impairment

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) poses a risk for future cognitive decline and progression to dementia. Multiple risk factors have been identified for MCI as well as dementia. Vascular risk factors have been identified as playing a more prominent role in Alzheimer's dementia than previously thought and have raised interest about the potential for factors such as heart disease and hypertension to contribute to risk for MCI as well. This review provides an overview of this growing literature specific to the relationship between vascular risk factors and MCI. The focus is primarily on how prevalence rates of MCI are impacted by cerebrovascular symptoms, neuropsychological and neuroimaging findings specific to MCI when cerebrovascular factors are examined concurrently, and genetic factors common to both vascular risk and MCI. Finally, the review comments on methodological issues involved in examining vascular risk as well as on future directions needed to continue to improve our understanding of MCI in the context of cerebrovascular symptoms.