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Estimation of premorbid intelligence in dementia
The British Journal of Clinical Psychology
|May 1, 1986
Summary
Cognitive tests did not correlate with dementia severity in elderly individuals. However, the National Adult Reading Test and Mill Hill Vocabulary Scale showed a strong relationship with each other, suggesting their utility in assessing premorbid intelligence.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Assessing premorbid intelligence in individuals with dementia is crucial for understanding cognitive decline.
- The National Adult Reading Test (NART) and Mill Hill Vocabulary Scale (MHVS) are commonly used for this purpose.
- The relationship between these tests and dementia severity requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between NART and MHVS scores and dementia severity in elderly subjects.
- To compare cognitive and behavioral measures between Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia patients.
Main Methods:
- Neuropsychological assessment of 30 elderly subjects with dementia.
- Utilized a battery of tests including NART and MHVS.
- Employed four cognitive and behavioral measures to assess dementia severity.
Main Results:
- No significant correlation was found between NART or MHVS scores and dementia severity.
- A highly significant correlation was observed between NART and MHVS scores.
- No significant differences in cognitive or behavioral measures were found between Alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia patients.
Conclusions:
- NART and MHVS may not be reliable indicators of current dementia severity.
- These tests maintain a strong inter-relationship, potentially reflecting stable aspects of cognitive function.
- Further research is needed to clarify the role of premorbid intelligence estimation in dementia assessment.