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Central cholinergic deficiency WAIS profiles in a nondemented aged sample
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology
|April 1, 1987
Summary
The Fuld Index, a WAIS profile, rarely appears in healthy seniors. This suggests the profile may specifically indicate Alzheimer's type dementia, supporting Fuld's original findings.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Geriatric Medicine
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- A specific Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) profile, termed the Fuld Index, was previously associated with drug-induced cholinergic deficiency and Alzheimer's type dementia.
- The Index's specificity in differentiating between dementia and normal aging requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of the Fuld Index in a healthy elderly population.
- To assess the Fuld Index's potential as a specific biomarker for Alzheimer's type dementia.
Main Methods:
- Administration of the WAIS to a group of healthy elderly individuals.
- Analysis of the obtained WAIS profiles to identify the presence and frequency of the Fuld Index.
Main Results:
- The Fuld Index was found to occur rarely in independently functioning elderly persons.
- The low frequency in healthy elders supports the Index's potential specificity for dementia.
Conclusions:
- The Fuld Index appears infrequently in healthy aging adults.
- These findings lend support to the hypothesis that the Fuld Index may be a relatively specific indicator of Alzheimer's type dementia.