Clinical Manifestations

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are progressive neurodegenerative conditions impacting cognition and daily life.
• This is the first multi-site study in Peru evaluating cognitive performance in MCI and AD using standardized neuropsychological instruments.
• The study aimed to characterize participants with MCI and AD through comprehensive neuropsychological assessments across multiple Peruvian cities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize cognitive performance in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Peru.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of standardized neuropsychological instruments in differentiating these conditions.
• To provide insights into dementia evaluation and early identification strategies within the Peruvian context.

Main Methods:

• A total of 267 participants were evaluated: 145 controls, 41 with MCI, and 81 with AD.
• Standardized assessments included PHQ-9, Pfeffer, RUDAS, and INECO.
• RUDAS and INECO scores were compared between groups using T-Student or Mann-Whitney U statistical tests.

Main Results:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients showed significant cognitive and executive impairments compared to controls.
• The RUDAS Total Score was significantly lower in AD patients (11.26 ± 8.3) versus controls (26.61 ± 3.1, p < 0.001).
• AD patients exhibited impairments in INECO subtests related to inhibitory control and working memory, specifically Instrucciones Conflictivas (p < 0.001) and Meses Atrás (p = 0.018).

Conclusions:

• Findings confirm severe cognitive and executive impairments in AD patients compared to MCI and controls.
• RUDAS and INECO scores demonstrate potential in differentiating neurocognitive conditions, highlighting deficits in inhibitory control and working memory in AD.
• The study offers novel insights into dementia evaluation in Peru, emphasizing the importance of standardized assessments for early cognitive decline detection.