Related Experiment Videos
Screening for Alzheimer's disease by clock drawing
G P Wolf-Klein1, F A Silverstone, A P Levy
1Nerken Center for Geriatric Research, Jewish Institute for Geriatric Care, New Hyde Park, New York 11042.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|August 1, 1989
Summary
The clock drawing test effectively screens for Alzheimer's disease in geriatric clinics. This simple, low-cost tool accurately identifies cognitive impairment, aiding early diagnosis and patient care.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Neurology
- Cognitive Assessment
Background:
- Growing concern regarding Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevalence.
- Need for accessible screening tools in clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the validity of the clock drawing test (CDT) for screening probable Alzheimer's disease.
- To assess the CDT's performance in a general geriatric outpatient clinic population.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 312 patients in an active outpatient geriatric clinic.
- Analysis of clock drawings from patients with normal mental status, depression, and probable Alzheimer's disease.
Main Results:
- Clock drawings from normal and depressed patients were generally normal.
- Alzheimer's patients exhibited characteristic abnormalities in 86.7% of cases (sensitivity).
- The test demonstrated 92.7% specificity and 97.2% correct identification of normal individuals.
Conclusions:
- The clock drawing test is a valid, low-cost screening tool for cognitive loss.
- It is useful for healthcare professionals in geriatric clinics to characterize potential Alzheimer's disease.
- The CDT aids in identifying cognitive impairment in a general geriatric population.