[Assessment of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in epidemiologic studies. An overview on the current state of research in Germany]

We sought to provide an overview on the assessment of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in epidemiological studies from Germany.We conducted a literature search in the databases Pubmed and PsycInfo.Literature search identified 31 relevant studies using a broad spectrum of methods and neuropsychological instruments.Further efforts are necessary to establish a generally accepted core set of instruments enabling a harmonized assessment of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in epidemiological studies. Such a core set should comprise neuropsychological tests but also standardized questionnaires on subjective cognitive impairment and impairment in activities of daily living. If possible, third-party information (proxy interviews) should be included.