Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Highlighting and Reducing the Impact of Negative Aging Stereotypes During Older Adults' Cognitive Testing
Published on: January 24, 2020
Mini-cognitive testing in patients with age-related macular degeneration
Khalil M Al-Salem1, Shlomit Schaal
1*Department of Ophthalmology, University of Mutah, Al-Karak, Jordan; and †Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.
Purpose:
To compare Mini-Cognitive (Mini-Cog) Screening test results between patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-matched controls.
Participants:
Two hundred and twenty-nine patients were included in the study. Patients were divided into 3 groups: 56 patients with exudative AMD, mean age of 76 ± 8 years; 82 patients with dry AMD, mean age of 77 ± 9 years; and 91 controls, mean age of 75 ± 8 years.
Methods:
The Mini-Cog test, used to screen patients with early cognitive impairment, was introduced to the three groups of patients at the settings of an ophthalmology outpatient clinic. Test scores were compared between the groups.
Results:
The mean for the Mini-Cog test scores was 3.5 (95% confidence interval, 3.15-3.85) for the dry AMD group, 3.95 (95% confidence interval, 3.51-4.39) for the exudative AMD group, and 4.63 (95% confidence interval, 4.45-4.80) for the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the scores of AMD groups, however, both AMD groups received significantly lower scores than controls (P < 0.0001).
Conclusion:
Patients with age-related macular degeneration in this study demonstrated lower mean scores in the Mini-Cog test than age-matched controls. The Mini-Cog test may be easily applied at an office setting of ophthalmology outpatient clinics, and may help in the early diagnosis of cognitive impairment in the patients with AMD.
Insights
Patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) scored lower on the Mini-Cog cognitive screening test compared to controls. This suggests the Mini-Cog test can aid in early cognitive impairment detection in AMD patients.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
- Cognitive impairment is a growing concern in the elderly population.
- Early detection of cognitive decline is crucial for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare Mini-Cognitive (Mini-Cog) Screening test performance between patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and age-matched controls.
- To assess the utility of the Mini-Cog test for identifying cognitive impairment in AMD patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 229 participants was divided into three groups: exudative AMD (n=56), dry AMD (n=82), and controls (n=91).
- The Mini-Cog test, a brief cognitive screening tool, was administered to all participants.
- Mini-Cog scores were statistically compared across the three groups.
Main Results:
- Both dry AMD and exudative AMD groups demonstrated significantly lower Mini-Cog scores compared to the control group (P < 0.0001).
- No statistically significant difference in Mini-Cog scores was observed between the dry AMD and exudative AMD groups.
- Mean Mini-Cog scores were 3.5 for dry AMD, 3.95 for exudative AMD, and 4.63 for controls.
Conclusions:
- Patients with age-related macular degeneration exhibit poorer performance on the Mini-Cog test compared to their age-matched peers.
- The Mini-Cog test is a practical tool for ophthalmology outpatient clinics to screen for cognitive impairment in AMD patients.
- Implementing the Mini-Cog test may facilitate earlier diagnosis and management of cognitive decline in individuals with AMD.
More Related Videos
12:18A Machine Learning Approach to Design an Efficient Selective Screening of Mild Cognitive Impairment
Published on: January 11, 2020
06:23The 4 Mountains Test: A Short Test of Spatial Memory with High Sensitivity for the Diagnosis of Pre-dementia Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: October 13, 2016