Standardization and Validation of the Flash Visual Evoked Potential-P2 Conversion Scores in the Diagnosis of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Dementia

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), which is characterized by normal daily activity, but a significant decline in episodic memory, is now widely accepted as a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer's dementia (AD). Research suggests that many of the same neuropathological changes associated with AD also occur in patients diagnosed with aMCI. A recent review of the literature revealed that the latency of the flash visual-evoked potential-P2 (FVEP-P2) may possess pathognomonic information that may assist in the early detection of aMCI. While standards exist for the recording of FVEP-P2, individual clinics often use recording parameters that may differ, resulting in latencies that may not generalize beyond the clinic that produced them. The present article illustrates the process by which the FVEP-P2 latency can be standardized across clinics using FVEP-P2 Conversion Scores. We then demonstrate the diagnostic accuracy of the newly developed scores. Method: In the present investigation, we used the previously unpublished data containing the FVEP-P2 latencies of 45 AD and 60 controls. Result: We were able to demonstrate the process by which individual clinics may first standardize FVEP-P2 latencies and then examine patient performance using FVEP-P2 Conversion Scores, providing clinicians with a richer context from which to examine the patient performance. Conclusion: Consistent with the findings of previous research, the findings of the present investigation support the use of the FVEP-P2 Conversion Scores in the diagnosis of AD. Future directions, including the modification of recording parameters associated with the FVEP-P2, are also discussed.