USPSTF Publishes Cognitive Impairment Recommendation
In an update to its 2014 recommendation, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for cognitive impairment among older adults aged 65 years or older.1
The USPSTF arrived at its conclusion after reviewing available evidence on screening for cognitive impairment, including mild cognitive impairment and mild to moderate dementia, among community-dwelling older adults.
Despite the lack of evidence to determine the risk-benefit ratio of cognitive impairment screening in older adults, screening can still be a valuable measure for many patients, wrote Ronald C. Peterson, MD, PhD, and Kristine Yaffe, MD, in an accompanying editorial.2
“[T]he lack of evidence in the literature does not necessarily mean that screening has no benefits,” Drs Petersen and Yaffe explained, noting the need for future research in this area.2
It is still important for clinicians to consider the value of screening for cognitive impairment on a case-by-case basis, Drs Peterson and Yaffe wrote. “With the development of disease-modifying therapies for some of the underlying neurodegenerative diseases that contribute to cognitive impairment, the importance of screening will become increasingly apparent,” they added.2
—Christina Vogt
References:
- US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for cognitive impairment in older adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2020;323(8):757-763. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.0435.
- Petersen RC, Yaffe K. Issues and questions surrounding screening for cognitive impairment in older patients. JAMA. 2020;323(8):722-724. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.22527.