Related Experiment Videos
A cognitive screening battery for dementia in the elderly
H Jacqmin-Gadda1, C Fabrigoule, D Commenges
1INSERM U330, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, 146 rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France. heleme.jacqmin-gadda@bordeaux.inserm .fr
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
|October 12, 2000
Summary
This study developed a dementia screening tool using fewer neuropsychological tests. The proposed instrument achieved high specificity (0.77) for dementia detection, aiding early diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuropsychological Assessment
Background:
- Early detection of dementia is crucial for timely intervention and management.
- Existing screening methods may involve extensive neuropsychological testing, posing practical challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a concise screening instrument for dementia.
- To identify a minimal set of neuropsychological tests for efficient dementia screening.
Main Methods:
- Utilized pooled data from the Paquid cohort study on cerebral aging (2792 subjects, 8830 observations for estimation; 985 subjects, 2643 observations for validation).
- Selected neuropsychological tests and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) subscores significantly associated with dementia.
- Prioritized tests that enhanced model specificity while maintaining a sensitivity of one.
Main Results:
- A combination of the MMSE (including 'orientation to time' and 'recall three objects' subscores), Benton Visual Retention Test, and Isaacs' Set Test of verbal fluency was identified.
- This reduced set of tests demonstrated a specificity of 0.77 for dementia screening at a sensitivity of 1.
Conclusions:
- A brief screening instrument comprising selected neuropsychological tests and MMSE subscores can effectively screen for dementia.
- This approach offers a practical and efficient alternative for dementia detection in clinical settings.