Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
A Fine Motor Task to Study Joint Kinematics in a Preclinical Model of Neurodegenerative Disease
Published on: June 13, 2025
Apraxia in Patients with Cognitive Impairment: Evidence from Familiar Tool Use
Tang Taoran1, Wang Jinni2, Wei Jingxin2
1School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; The Affiliated Brain Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China; Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China; Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China.
Familiar Tool Use Impairment (FTUI) significantly increases with cognitive decline, affecting up to 65% of dementia patients. This impairment, linked to semantic and visuospatial deficits, may signal early functional decline.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology
- Gerontology and Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Cognitive impairment, particularly in dementia, often leads to difficulties in everyday tasks.
- Understanding the specific deficits in tool use can provide insights into the progression of cognitive decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of Familiar Tool Use Impairment (FTUI) in individuals with cognitive impairment.
- To investigate the association between FTUI, cognitive domains, and functional disability.
- To explore FTUI as a potential early indicator of functional decline.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, observational study involving 66 patients with mild cognitive impairment, 80 patients with dementia, and 85 healthy controls.
- Utilized the Familiar Tool Test (FTT) to evaluate tool use.
- Assessed multiple cognitive domains and basic activities of daily living.
Main Results:
- FTUI was present in 6.0% of mild cognitive impairment patients and rose to approximately 65.0% in the dementia group (p < 0.001).
- Semantic and visuospatial impairments were significantly associated with deficits in the FTT Selection Scale (FTT-S).
- Tool selection difficulties correlated with increased dependency in bathing and dressing.
Conclusions:
- FTUI prevalence increases substantially with cognitive impairment severity.
- Cognitive factors like semantic and visuospatial deficits underlie FTUI.
- FTUI may serve as an early warning sign for functional decline and a tool for cognitive rehabilitation in apraxia.
