Detecting mild cognitive impairment remotely with the modified memory impairment screen by telephone

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The original Memory Impairment Screen by Telephone (MIST) was limited in detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
• A modified version, mMIST, was developed to enhance sensitivity for less severe memory deficits.
• Subjective cognitive decline is a precursor to MCI and dementia, necessitating sensitive screening tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the modified Memory Impairment Screen by Telephone (mMIST) in identifying mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
• To assess the mMIST's performance in distinguishing MCI from non-pathological cognitive decline in older adults.
• To determine the mMIST's utility as a remote, low-cost screening instrument for cognitive impairment.

Main Methods:

• Older adults with subjective cognitive decline were assessed via telephone using the mMIST.
• Participants were independently classified as having MCI or non-pathological cognitive decline.
• Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to determine optimal cut-off scores and assess diagnostic accuracy.

Main Results:

• Participants with MCI scored significantly lower on the mMIST compared to those without MCI (10.8 vs 13.3, p < 0.001).
• mMIST performance correlated significantly with established cognitive tests (CVLT, VPAL, MoCA).
• ROC analysis yielded an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.79 for distinguishing MCI and 0.82 for amnestic MCI (aMCI).

Conclusions:

• The mMIST is a valid and sensitive screening tool for identifying mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults.
• Its remote administration, low cost, and minimal participant burden make it suitable for widespread use.
• The mMIST shows potential for both cross-sectional and longitudinal cognitive evaluations in research and clinical settings.