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Published on: October 13, 2016
Relation between the clock drawing test (CDT) and structural changes of brain in dementia.
Ye-Sung Kim1, Kyung-Mok Lee, Byung Hee Choi
1Department of Neurology, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, University Hospital, Daesa-dong, Junggu, Daejeon, South Korea.
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
|March 4, 2008
Summary
Cognitive impairment impacts Clock Drawing Test (CDT) performance, particularly with white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA). Periventricular WMH significantly worsens CDT results.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- The Clock Drawing Test (CDT) is a valuable tool for screening cognitive function.
- Understanding the neuroanatomical correlates of CDT performance is crucial for accurate assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between specific brain structural changes and performance on the Clock Drawing Test (CDT).
- To identify which brain alterations are most associated with impaired CDT results in patients with memory issues.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-four patients with memory impairment underwent cognitive assessments including the Korean mini-mental state examination (K-MMSE), 3MS, and Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery (SNSB).
- Four different CDT scoring methods were applied.
- Cerebral white matter hyperintensity (WMH), cortical atrophy (CA), ventricular enlargement (VE), and medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) were evaluated by neurologists blinded to clinical data.
Main Results:
- Cognitive and executive functions showed significant correlations with CDT performance.
- Increased white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) were inversely related to CDT scores.
- Periventricular WMH (PVH) had a greater negative impact on CDT performance than deep WMH (DWMH).
Conclusions:
- Executive dysfunction, potentially due to frontal-subcortical disruption from PVH, and memory deficits linked to MTA contribute to poorer CDT performance.
- Structural brain changes, specifically WMH and MTA, are key factors influencing CDT results in individuals with memory impairment.
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