<i>Background/Aims:</i> The diagnostic stability of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on short-term follow-up is a key issue in the characterization of this clinical syndrome. We aim to determine the cognitive outcome after 1 year of follow-up in a cohort of older adults. <i>Methods:</i> Baseline clinical and neuropsychological assessments were carried out in older subjects recruited at a tertiary memory clinic. The subjects were reassessed after 1 year of follow-up with the same clinical and neuropsychological protocol. <i>Results:</i> A total of 115 older adults, including MCI (n = 54) and controls (n = 61), underwent baseline and follow-up evaluation. Ten subjects classified as MCI at baseline (23%) resumed normal cognitive function and 13 controls (21%) progressed to MCI upon follow-up (χ² = 0.015, d.f. = 1, p = 0.90). The subjects diagnosed as having MCI on both assessments were older (p = 0.002) and had a worse global cognitive performance according to the Cambridge Cognitive Test (p = 0.014). <i>Conclusion:</i> The subjects who maintain the MCI status are older and have a worse baseline cognitive performance as well as multiple cognitive deficits.