Mini-ACE: Validation Study Among Older People in Long-Term Care

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuropsychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• The Mini-Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (M-ACE) is established for cognitive impairment assessment.
• Its validity in long-term care (LTC) settings for older adults was previously unconfirmed.
• The Portuguese version's utility in LTC requires specific validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity, reliability, and accuracy of the Portuguese M-ACE.
• To assess its ability to differentiate cognitive impairment no-dementia (CIND) from normal cognition in LTC users.
• To establish the M-ACE as a tool for early detection in this population.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive assessment was conducted on 196 Portuguese LTC users (≥ 60 years).
• Participants were categorized into Normal-cognition (n=71) and CIND (n=125) groups.
• Psychometric properties including reliability, consistency, and construct validity were analyzed.

Main Results:

• The Portuguese M-ACE demonstrated high reliability (McDonald's ω = .86, Cronbach's α = .85) and test-retest consistency (ICC = .83).
• Strong correlations with related measures confirmed construct validity (r = .67).
• The M-ACE accurately identified CIND with a cut-off score of 17 (AUC = 0.81, Sensitivity = 81.7%, Specificity = 74.4%).

Conclusions:

• The Portuguese M-ACE is a valid and reliable cognitive assessment tool for LTC residents.
• It effectively distinguishes between CIND and normal cognition in this population.
• The M-ACE can support early identification and management of cognitive decline in older adults within LTC settings.