Objectives: Our objective is to report prevalence of motoric cognitive risk syndrome (MCR), a

newly described predementia syndrome characterized by slow gait and cognitive complaints, in

multiple countries, and its association with dementia risk.

Methods: Pooled MCR prevalence analysis of individual data from 26,802 adults without dementia

and disability aged 60 years and older from 22 cohorts from 17 countries. We also examined

risk of incident cognitive impairment (Mini-Mental State Examination decline $4 points) and

dementia associated with MCR in 4,812 individuals without dementia with baseline Mini-

Mental State Examination scores $25 from 4 prospective cohort studies using Cox models

adjusted for potential confounders.

Results: At baseline, 2,808 of the 26,802 participants met MCR criteria. PooledMCR prevalence

was 9.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.2%–11.2%). MCR prevalence was higher with older

age but there were no sex differences. MCR predicted risk of developing incident cognitive

impairment in the pooled sample (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.0, 95% CI 1.7–2.4); aHRs were

1.5 to 2.7 in the individual cohorts. MCR also predicted dementia in the pooled sample (aHR 1.9,

95% CI 1.5–2.3). The results persisted even after excluding participants with possible cognitive

impairment, accounting for early dementia, and diagnostic overlap with other predementia

syndromes.

Conclusion: MCR is common in older adults, and is a strong and early risk factor for cognitive

decline. This clinical approach can be easily applied to identify high-risk seniors in a wide variety

of settings.​