Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2025

The 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
In Individuals With Subjective Cognitive Decline, Age, Memory and Speed Scores at Baseline Predict Progression to
Alexandre Perron1, Martine Roussel, Sandrine Wannepain-Despretz
1Department of Neurology and Laboratoire de Neurosciences Fonctionnelles et Pathologies, CHU Amiens-Picardie and Jules Verne University of Picardy, Amiens, France.
Abstract:
Some patients with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) progress to neurocognitive disorders (NCD), whereas others remain stable; however, the neuropsychological determinants of this progression have not been identified. Our objective was to examine baseline neuropsychological indicators that could discriminate between stable SCD Versus progression toward an NCD. We retrospectively included patients consulting for SCD at a university medical center's memory center (Amiens, France) who had undergone 3 or more neuropsychological assessments. Among the 80 patients with SCD, 11 had progressed to an NCD. The combination of age, memory, and speed scores at the baseline assessment predicted the progression of SCD with a sensitivity of 91%, and a negative predictive value of 98%. The present results constitute a first step (pending prospective studies) toward helping physicians to identify cases of SCD at risk of progression and, in particular, identifying patients with SCD who will not progress by examining baseline neuropsychological indicators. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04880252.
Related Concept Videos
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
Information Processing Approach
Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

