A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed: norm-referenced criteria for 121 Italian adults aged 45 to 90 years

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1493-1500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferdinando Petrazzuoli ◽  
Sebastian Palmqvist ◽  
Hans Thulesius ◽  
Nicola Buono ◽  
Enzo Pirrotta ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT) is a brief test that can identify cognitive impairment. AQT has been validated in Arabic, English, Greek, Japanese, Norwegian, Spanish, and Swedish. The aim of this study was to develop Italian criterion-referenced norms for AQT.Methods:AQT consists of three test plates where the patient shall rapidly name (1) the color of 40 blue, red, yellow, or black squares (AQT color), (2) the form of 40 black figures (circles, squares, triangles, or rectangles; AQT form), (3) the color and form of 40 figures (consisting of previous colors and forms; AQT color–form). The AQT test was administered to 121 Italian cognitively healthy primary care patients (age range: 45–90 years). Their mean Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was 28.8 ± 0.9 points (range 26–30 points). AQT naming times in seconds were used for developing preliminary criterion cut-off times for different age groups.Results:Age was found to have a significant moderate positive correlation with AQT naming times color (r = 0.65, p < 0.001), form (r = 0.53, p < 0.001), color–form (r = 0.63, p < 0.001) and a moderate negative correlation with MMSE score (r = –0.44, p < 0.001) and AQT naming times differed significantly between younger (45–55 years old), older (56–70 years old), and the oldest (71–90 years old) participants. Years of education correlated positively but weakly with MMSE score (r = 0.27, p = 0.003) and negatively but weakly with AQT color (r = –0.16, p = ns), form (r = –0.24, p = 0.007), and color–form (r = –0.19, p = 0.005). We established preliminary cut-off times for the AQT test based on +1 and +2 standard deviations according to the approach in other languages and settings.Conclusions:This is the first Italian normative AQT study. Future studies of AQT – a test useful for dementia screening in primary care – will eventually refine cut-off times for normality balancing sensitivity and specificity in cognitive diagnostics.

Author(s):  
Andrea A. Joyce ◽  
Grace M. Styklunas ◽  
Nancy A. Rigotti ◽  
Jordan M. Neil ◽  
Elyse R. Park ◽  
...  

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on US adults’ smoking and quitting behaviors is unclear. We explored the impact of COVID-19 on smoking behaviors, risk perceptions, and reactions to text messages during a statewide stay-at-home advisory among primary care patients who were trying to quit. From May–June 2020, we interviewed smokers enrolled in a 12-week, pilot cessation trial providing text messaging and mailed nicotine replacement medication (NCT04020718). Twenty-two individuals (82% white, mean age 55 years), representing 88% of trial participants during the stay-at-home advisory, completed exit interviews; four (18%) of them reported abstinence. Interviews were thematically analyzed by two coders. COVID-19-induced environmental changes had mixed effects, facilitating quitting for some and impeding quitting for others. While stress increased for many, those who quit found ways to cope with stress. Generally, participants felt at risk for COVID-19 complications but not at increased risk of becoming infected. Reactions to COVID-19 and quitting behaviors differed across age groups, older participants reported difficulties coping with isolation (e.g., feeling disappointed when a text message came from the study and not a live person). Findings suggest that cessation interventions addressing stress and boredom are needed during COVID-19, while smokers experiencing isolation may benefit from live-person supports.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pouya Farokhnezhad Afshar ◽  
Elisabeth H. Wiig ◽  
Seyed Kazem Malakouti ◽  
Behnam Shariati ◽  
Sara Nejati

Abstract Background Cognitive disorders are one of the important issues in old age. There are many cognitive tests, but some variables affect their results (e.g., age and education). This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT) in screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Methods This is a psychometric properties study. 115 older adults participated in the study and were divided into three groups (46 with MCI, 24 with dementia, and 45 control) based on the diagnosis of two geriatric psychiatrists. Participants were assessed by AQT and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, independent t-test, and ROC curve by SPSS v.23. Results There was no significant correlation between AQT subscales and age and no significant difference between the AQT subscales in sex, educational levels. The test-retest correlations ranges were 0.84 from 097. Concurrent validity was significant between MMSE and AQT. Its correlation was with Color − 0.78, Form − 0.71, and Color-Form − 0.72. The cut-off point for Color was 43.50 s, Form 52 s, and Color-Form 89 s were based on sensitivity and specificity for differentiating older patients with MCI with controls. The cut-off point for Color was 62.50 s, for Form 111 s, and Color-Form 197.50 s based on sensitivity and specificity measures for differentiating older patients with dementia and MCI. Conclusion The findings showed that AQT is a suitable tool for screening cognitive function in older adults.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pouya Farokhnezhad Afshar ◽  
Elisabeth H. Wiig ◽  
Seyed Kazem Malakouti ◽  
Behnam Shariati

Abstract Background: Cognitive disorders are one of the most important issues in old age. They may remain hidden in the early stages. There are many cognitive tests, but some variables affect their results (e.g., age and education.) This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT) in Iranian older adults.Methods: This study aimed to test the psychometric properties of AQT. 114 older adults participated in the study and were divided into three groups (46 with mild cognitive impairments (MCI), 24 with dementia, and 45 without MCI and dementia) based on the diagnosis of two geriatric psychiatrists. Participants were assessed by AQT and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, independent t-test, and ROC curve by SPSS v.23.Results: There was no significant correlation between AQT subscales and age and no significant difference between the AQT subscales in male and female, educational levels, and marital status. The test-retest correlations (r) were significant for Color (C) 0.84, Form (F) 0.91 and Color-Form (CF) 0.94. Convergent validity was significant between MMSE and AQT. Its correlation was with Color -0.78, Form -0.71, and Color-Form -0.72. The cut-off point for Color was 43.50 s, Form 52 s, and Color-Form 89 s were based on sensitivity and specificity for differentiating older patients with MCI with controls. The cut-off point for Color was 62.50 s, for Form 111 s, and Color-Form 197.50 s based on sensitivity and specificity measures for differentiating older patients with dementia and MCI.Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that A Quick Test of Cognitive Speed (AQT) is a suitable tool for assessing cognitive function in older adults.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Harrawood ◽  
Nicole R. Fowler ◽  
Anthony J. Perkins ◽  
Michael A. LaMantia ◽  
Malaz A. Boustani

Objectives: To measure older adults acceptability of dementia screening and assess screening test results of a racially diverse sample of older primary care patients in the United States. Design: Cross-sectional study of primary care patients aged 65 and older. Setting: Urban and suburban primary care clinics in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2008 to 2009. Participants: Nine hundred fifty-four primary care patients without a documented diagnosis of dementia. Measurements: Community Screening Instrument for Dementia, the Mini-Mental State Examination, and the Telephone Instrument for Cognitive Screening. Results: Of the 954 study participants who consented to participate, 748 agreed to be screened for dementia and 206 refused screening. The overall response rate was 78.4%. The positive screen rate of the sample who agreed to screening was 10.2%. After adjusting for demographic differences the following characteristics were still associated with increased likelihood of screening positive for dementia: age, male sex, and lower education. Patients who believed that they had more memory problems than other people of their age were also more likely to screen positive for dementia. Conclusion: Age and perceived problems with memory are associated with screening positive for dementia in primary care.


2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracey Holsinger ◽  
Malaz Boustani ◽  
David Abbot ◽  
John W Williams

2007 ◽  
Vol 104 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1067-1075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth H. Wiig ◽  
Niels Peter Nielsen ◽  
James M. Jacobson

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole R. Fowler ◽  
Anthony J. Perkins ◽  
Hilary A. Turchan ◽  
Amie Frame ◽  
Patrick Monahan ◽  
...  

Objective. To understand older primary care patients’ perceptions of the risks and benefits of dementia screening and to measure the association between attitudes and screening behaviors.Methods. Eligible patients completed the Perceptions Regarding Investigational Screening for Memory in Primary Care (PRISM-PC) questionnaire and then were asked to undergo dementia screening by a telephone screening instrument.Results. Higher scores on the PRISM-PC questionnaire items that measure attitudes about benefits of screening were associated with decreased odds of refusing screening. Participants who refused screening had significantly lower PRISM-PC questionnaire scores on the items that measure perceived benefits compared to those who agreed to screening. Participants who refused screening were less likely to agree on screening for other conditions, such as depression and cancer. Participants who know someone with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) were less likely to refuse screening.Discussion. Patients’ attitudes about the benefits of dementia screening are associated with their acceptance of dementia screening.


2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 104-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Bowling ◽  
Barnaby Reeves ◽  
Gene Rowe

Background: Access to cardiac treatments has been documented to vary with patients’ age. It is unknown whether these variations reflect patients’ treatment preferences. We aimed to investigate patients’ preferences for cardiology treatments and develop a Patients’ Preferences Questionnaire. Methods: Semi-structured interviews with primary care patients with diagnosed angina with postal follow-up. The resulting Patients’ Preferences Questionnaire was tested with newly admitted inpatients with acute coronary syndrome and with patients in primary care. Results: The Patients’ Preferences Questionnaire was psychometrically sound. Analyses of preference subscale scores showed that the most positive preference scores were for medication. Angioplasty scored highest at the negative end of the scale. Detailed analyses showed that older people and women were less likely to prefer coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), reflecting its greater level of invasiveness. Older people (aged over 75 years, compared to people aged under 75 years), but not women, were also more cautious in their strength of preference for angioplasty. More positive attitudes towards CABG surgery, and more negative attitudes towards medication, were associated with greater impact of the condition on life. Conclusions: The research resulted in a psychometrically sound Patients’ Preferences Questionnaire. There was some evidence to support the view that older people's weaker preferences for CABG may contribute slightly to variations in the provision of re-vascularization. There was also variation in preferences within age groups, cautioning against the assumption that all or most older people are more reluctant than younger people to undergo invasive procedures.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna S. Kvitting ◽  
Anders Wimo ◽  
Maria M. Johansson ◽  
Jan Marcusson

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