Test Your Memory (TYM) as a screening instrument in clinical practice - the Polish validation study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Geriatrics
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis relies on cognitive screening instruments.
• The Test Your Memory (TYM) test is a self-administered tool for AD detection.
• Validation of the Polish version of the TYM test is crucial for its clinical utility in Poland.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Polish version of the TYM test as a screening instrument for Alzheimer's disease in Polish clinical practice.
• To assess the sensitivity and specificity of the Polish TYM test in differentiating between AD patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• 199 patients were assessed, including 131 with AD and mild cognitive impairments (MCI), and 94 healthy controls.
• The Polish TYM test's performance was evaluated against established neuropsychological tests (MMSE, CDT, DemTect, FAS).
• Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the TYM test in distinguishing AD from healthy controls.

Main Results:

• The Polish TYM test demonstrated good correlation with other neuropsychological instruments in AD patients.
• A cut-off score of ≤39 yielded the highest differentiation between AD and healthy controls, with 91% sensitivity and 90% specificity.
• Older age (≥75 years) and primary education level were associated with significantly lower TYM scores.

Conclusions:

• The Polish version of the TYM test is a valuable and effective screening tool for dementia, comparable to the MMSE.
• Normative data indicate that age and education level are important factors influencing TYM test interpretation.
• The Polish TYM test can be considered a viable alternative for cognitive screening in Polish clinical practice.