The prevalence of dementia is increasing in both developing and developed countries. Over past 2 decades development of screening tools for the identification of early stages of cognitive impairment became an important goal for health care providers as timely initiation of preventive interventions may potentially delay the development of clinically overt degenerative dementia.The term “mild cognitive impairment “(MCI) was introduced to define this differences between normal age-associated minor cognitive changes and dementia  Recently, in multiplicity of cognitive domains the importance of executive functions in evaluation of patients’ functional activity was emphasized. In many cases of preserved basic cognitive abilities these patients demonstrate difficulties in occupational performance caused by disorganization of executive functions. EF construct has entered the research arena relatively recently, representing a new area of interdisciplinary inquiry. In Georgia, dysfunctions of executive systems were under-diagnosed and sometimes ignored. Until now, the impact of executive dysfunction (ED) in patients with neurological disorders in Georgia was unknown. There were no epidemiological or clinical data about ED in the country. EF and adaptive behaviour were not considered as serious medical and social problems. There were no diagnostic tools available and therefore identification of EF problems were delayed resulting significant disability.

  The project reached the goals, considering these issues:

1. Montreal Cognitive Assessment- a screening tool for revealing EF problems had been translated into Georgian and validated- the paper about the research had been published in American journal of Alzheimer disease & other dementias, 2017,32(1)
2. Epidemiological study(n=1000) had been performed and EF, depression and anxiety was assessed with sensitive tools;
3. Patients with different neurological diseases (n=300) were evaluated with the same tools and the data were statistically elaborated
4. Delis-Kaplan Executive Function systems and Wechsler Intelligence Scale Abbreviated-II were translated into Georgian and validated on healthy population of 40-75 old age group;
5. The clinical guide about MCI for doctors was published in Georgian
6. Meeting with family doctors and neurologists was held to disseminate the gathered knowledge;
7. Group members participated in the international conferences concerning the research topics;
8. The database of 1300 persons is established and many interesting studies should be performed using it
9. The recently published textbooks and neuropsychological tests had been purchased, so the future studies and education of young professionals will have better opportunities.