Early detection of cognitive disorders: Follow-up study.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Geriatrics
• Primary Health Care Research

Background:

• A novel Cuetos-Vega test has been developed for early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
• This rapid and simple test aims to diagnose cognitive disorders in early phases.
• The current study evaluates its performance in primary health care (PHC) settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the Cuetos-Vega test.
• To validate the test's utility in a primary health care context.
• To evaluate the test's diagnostic accuracy for early Alzheimer's disease symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A follow-up study involving asymptomatic individuals aged 66-75.
• Random selection and administration of the Cuetos-Vega test at a PHC center.
• Repeat testing after 32 months, including the Pfeiffer test for cognitive assessment.

Main Results:

• The study included 20 participants (50% male), average age 71.5 years.
• After 32 months, the test demonstrated 50% sensitivity and 90.9% specificity.
• Positive predictive value was 75%, negative predictive value 76.9%, and overall accuracy 76.4%.

Conclusions:

• The Cuetos-Vega test shows potential for detecting mild cognitive impairment and early AD symptoms.
• The findings suggest the test is viable for primary care screening.
• A larger study cohort is necessary to enhance the internal validity and confirm these results.