[The five-word test in memory deficiency]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cognitive Science
• Geriatrics

Background:

• Bedside memory tests are crucial for early cognitive decline detection.
• The 5-Word test assesses free and cued selective recollection.
• Existing diagnostic tools may require enhancement for improved accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of the 5-Word test in Belgian French speakers.
• To assess the diagnostic utility of the 5-Word test combined with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD).
• To develop a logistic regression model for predicting AD and dementia probability.

Main Methods:

• The 5-Word test was administered to five groups: normal subjects, depressive patients, AD patients, VD patients, and a validation cohort.
• Data from the 5-Word test and MMSE were used in a logistic regression model.
• Variance analysis assessed the impact of free and cued recall on immediate and delayed recall across four groups.

Main Results:

• A significant third-order interaction (p < 0.001) was found between normal, AD, and VD groups.
• The combined 5-Word test and MMSE model correctly classified 98% of normal subjects and 57 patients with AD (p < 0.001).
• The 5-Word test significantly increased the sensitivity of the MMSE for early AD diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• The 5-Word test is a reliable, low-tech bedside tool for assessing memory.
• Combining the 5-Word test with the MMSE offers good specificity for AD diagnosis.
• This combined approach is valuable for screening populations with early cognitive and memory deficits, aiding in memory clinic referrals.