Cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older Nigerians: clinical correlates and stability of diagnosis.

To determine correlates and outcome of cognitive impairment without dementia in community-dwelling elderly Nigerians. A total of 2487 community residents aged 65 years and over were screened using the Community Screening Interview for Dementia. A subset of 423 individuals received diagnostic clinical evaluation. Participants were diagnosed normal, demented, or cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND). Follow-up clinical diagnostic evaluation was conducted on CIND subjects approximately 2 years later. One hundred and fifty-two persons were diagnosed CIND. Eighty-seven CIND subjects were seen at follow-up assessment, 14 (16.1%) had converted to dementia, 22 (25.3%) reverted to normal, and 51 (58.6%) remained CIND. No baseline factors predicted later development of dementia amongst the CIND subjects. CIND subjects who reverted to normal tended to be male and to have higher baseline cognitive scores. Apolipoprotein status was not related to diagnosis at follow-up. CIND is common in community-dwelling Nigerians. Although the outcome is variable, it does represent a high-risk group for subsequent dementia.