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The NUH Memory Clinic. National University Hospital, Singapore
1Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Objective:
To assess the cognitive performance of elderly patients referred to the memory clinic.
Design:
The patients were interviewed using the computerised mental state programme, GMS-AGECAT, and assessed on the Cognitive Assessment Scale (CAS) which includes the Elderly Cognitive Assessment Questionnaire (ECAQ) and the Cambridge Memory Test (CMT), modified for Chinese elderly.
Subjects:
There were 72 Chinese elderly subjects aged 65 years and above, referred to the NUH Memory Clinic in the first year.
Results:
Only 45 (62.5%) of the 72 subjects were diagnosed to have dementia using DSM III R criteria. There were 25 cases of Alzheimer's Disease and 20 multi-infarct dementia. In the non-demented group, 15 (20.8%) had depression or anxiety disorders and 12 (16.7%), had no mental disorders but had physical illness which could affect memory. There was a highly significant difference in the ECAQ, CMT and CAS scores of demented and non-demented elderly. There was also a significant difference in the cognitive performance of elderly with mild dementia and those with no mental disorder.
Conclusion:
The memory clinic is a useful facility for the diagnosis and management of dementia. The Cognitive Assessment Scale provides a valid and reliable battery of tests for dementia.