[Mild cognitive impairment (MCI): characteristics, risk factors and prevention].

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a term describing the individual's cognitive state, ranging from normal aging to dementia. Since the term MCI was only recently introduced, there are still controversies regarding its definition, frequency and characteristics. Despite ambiguity in the clinical definitions, MCI is strongly considered as representing enhanced risk for the development of dementia. Therefore, MCI seems to be an important target phase for clinical intervention aimed at inhibiting deterioration to dementia. Despite the controversies regarding the diagnosis of MCI and its exact definition, great progress has been achieved in identifying brain changes, genetic risk factors and prevention factors associated with MCI.