Assessment of impairment in activities of daily living in mild cognitive impairment using an individualized scale Avaliação do comprometimento nas atividades de vida diária no comprometimento cognitivo leve através de uma escala individualizada

There is growing evidence that difficulties performing some activities of daily living (ADL) might be present in mild cognitive impairment (MCI)1. In 2011, a new classification of MCI was proposed, namely, “MCI due to Alzheimer’s disease”2. The new classification includes the presence of impairments performing complex ADL, but not sufficiently severe to affect functional independence. The previous classification of MCI did not include difficulties performing ADL, only mild cognitive deficits caused by factors other than aging. Moreover, these deficits must be documented by objective testing and MCI patients should exhibit no signs of dementia3. Impairments in ADL may be secondary to cognitive problems or to other limitations present in elderly individuals. The ability to perform meaningful ADL should be one of the therapeutic goals in the care of MCI patients. Instruments that can individually measure and prioritize meaningful ADL for each MCI patient would help in establishing cost-effective interventions. People with MCI have an increased risk of developing Alzheimer (AD) and other dementias4 and may be at a pre-dementia stage, a period when curative or preventive interventions are more effective. The reestablishment of performance despite acquired limitations is a field of study and practice of occupational therapy. According to the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance (CMOP), an important theoretical model of occupational therapy, refers to the ability to choose, organize