Editorial [Hot Topic:Perspective on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) (Guest Editor: Bernardino Ghetti)]

Current Alzheimer Research is delighted to present a special issue entitled ‘Perspective on Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)’. This special issue is based on scientific presentations given at the ‘Symposia on Mild Cognitive Impairment’, organized by the Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA, from April 18-19, 2008. This issue contains a collection of eleven peer-reviewed articles on different aspects of MCI. These thought-provoking manuscripts contribute significantly to our understanding of the clinical features and neuropsychological aspects associated with the earliest stages of dementing illnesses. Trajectories of the cognitive impairment in sporadic and familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are clearly discussed as well as the current therapeutic approaches. The role and importance of neuroimaging is also well represented by studies indicating that neurodegeneration begins well before current standards yield a diagnosis of dementia. Furthermore, the dimensions of care for the affected individuals and caregiver are presented. This special issue is organized and edited by Prof. Bernardino Ghetti, who reflects on the role of memories at the stage of life when they may be robbed by age-related disorders. On behalf of the Editorial Board and the publishers I deeply appreciate Dr. Ghetti and authors for their insightfulness and dedication. I am also indebted to the reviewers and others involved in this project for their hard work.