Communication Difficulty and Relevant Interventions in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Implications for Neuroplasticity.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a critical point for controlling cognitive decline. Patterns of communication difficulty have been observed in patients with MCI and warrant examination and management. This systematic review examined (1) characteristics of communication difficulty in MCI by focusing on 2 domains, expressive and receptive communication, and (2) cognitive interventions that addressed communication difficulties in individuals with MCI. Of the 28 observational studies reviewed, expressive and receptive communications were generally impaired in individuals with MCI compared with their healthy counterparts. However, only 1 of the 7 interventions effectively improved communication-related outcomes. We summarize the article with a discussion about how neuroplasticity influences communication abilities in individuals with MCI to inform the future development of interventions for communication difficulty.