scholarly journals A new Brief computerized cognitive screening battery (CompCogs) for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helenice Charchat Fichman ◽  
Ricardo Nitrini ◽  
Paulo Caramelli ◽  
Koichi Sameshima
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Cognitive Components ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia

Abstract Screening tests for early diagnosis of dementia are of great clinical relevance. The ideal test set must be brief and reliable, and should probe cognitive components impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Objectives: To develop a new Computerized Cognitive Screening test (CompCogs), and to investigate its validity for the early diagnosis of AD, and evaluate its heuristic value in understanding the processing of information in AD. Methods: The computerized neuropsychological performance battery, originally including six tests, was applied in forty seven patients with probable mild AD and 97 controls matched for age and education. This computerized neuropsychological test battery, developed with MEL Professional, allows control of timing and order of stimuli presentation, as well as recording of response type and latency. A brief-screening version, CompCogs, was selected using the most discriminative neuropsychological test variables derived from logistic regression analysis. Full battery administration lasted about 40 minutes, while the CompCogs took only 15 minutes. Results: CompCogs included the Face test (correct response) and Word and Forms with Short term memory tests (reaction time). CompCogs presented 91.8% sensitivity and 93.6% specificity for the diagnosis of AD using ROC analyses of AD diagnosis probability derived by logistic regression. Conclusions: CompCogs showed high validity for AD early diagnosis and, therefore, may be a useful alternative screening instrument.

scholarly journals Screening for Alzheimer's disease in low-educated or illiterate older adults in Brazil: a systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciane de Fátima Viola Ortega ◽  
Ivan Aprahamian ◽  
Marcus Kiiti Borges ◽  
João de Castilho Cação ◽  
Mônica Sanches Yassuda
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Screening Instruments ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Low Education ◽  
Low Educated

ABSTRACT Cognitive screening instruments are influenced by education and/or culture. In Brazil, as illiteracy and low education rates are high, it is necessary to identify the screening tools with the highest diagnostic accuracy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Objective: To identify the cognitive screening instruments applied in the Brazilian population with greater accuracy, to detect AD in individuals with a low educational level or who are illiterate. Methods: Systematic search in SciELO, PubMed and LILACS databases of studies that used cognitive screening tests to detect AD in older Brazilian adults with low or no education. Results: We found 328 articles and nine met the inclusion criteria. The identified instruments showed adequate or high diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion: For valid cognitive screening it is important to consider sociocultural and educational factors in the interpretation of results. The construction of specific instruments for the low educated or illiterate elderly should better reflect the difficulties of the Brazilian elderly in different regions of the country.

scholarly journals Views on Early Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease Among Dutch Physicians: A Qualitative Interview Study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Krista Tromp ◽  
Marthe Smedinga ◽  
Edo Richard ◽  
Marieke Perry ◽  
Maartje H.N. Schermer
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Test Characteristics ◽  
Qualitative Interview Study ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia ◽  
Disease Concepts

Background: Hope for future treatments to prevent or slow down dementia motivates researchers to strive for ever-earlier diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) based on biomarkers, even before symptoms occur. But is a biomarker-based early diagnosis desirable in clinical practice? Objective: This study explores the ethical considerations that shape current clinical practice regarding early AD diagnostics and the use of biomarkers. Methods: In this qualitative study, Dutch physicians were interviewed. Topics included physicians’ views concerning early AD diagnosis in persons with no or mild cognitive impairment, physicians’ considerations regarding current and expected future practices of early AD diagnosis, the use of biomarkers, and the use of the concepts preclinical and prodromal AD. We analyzed the transcripts using directed content analysis. Results: 15 general practitioners, neurologists, and geriatricians in the Netherlands were interviewed. Most of them interpreted an early AD diagnosis with an early diagnosis of dementia. We identified six clusters of considerations sometimes in favor but most often against pursuing an early AD diagnosis in people with no or mild cognitive impairment that influence physicians’ diagnostic decision-making: preferences and characteristics of persons, test characteristics, impact on care, type of setting, disease concepts, and issues on a societal level. Conclusion: The discussion concerning an early AD diagnosis based on biomarkers which is widely held in the scientific field, has not entered clinical practice structurally. A biomarker-based early diagnosis does not fit within Dutch physicians’ views on what good care for people with no, subjective, or mild cognitive impairment should entail.

scholarly journals Preliminary data on a mnemonic instrument with proverbs for tracking Alzheimer's disease

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricéa Tabósa Ferreira Santos ◽  
Gutemberg Guerra ◽  
Terce Liana de Menezes ◽  
Tatiana Lins Carvalho ◽  
João Carlos Alchieri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Episodic Memory ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Clock Drawing Test ◽  
New Instrument ◽  
One Year ◽  
State Examination

Abstract In the differential diagnosis between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and normal aging, tests evaluating memory and executive functions are frequently used. The addition of abstraction tests may enhance the effectiveness of screening tests for AD. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare initial data of a new instrument - The Screening Test for Alzheimer's Disease with Proverbs (STADP) - against other screening tests used in AD diagnosis. Methods: Sixty elderly individuals (46 controls and 14 AD subjects with CDR=1), aged ³60 years, with at least one year of schooling, were evaluated using the STADP at outpatient clinic. The STADP assesses short-term memory, episodic memory, executive functions and language, in addition to proverb recognition. The performance of the participants on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), semantic Verbal Fluency (VF) and Clock Drawing Test (CDT) were evaluated and the habit of reading, writing and sociodemographic data were also taken into account. Results: There were significant correlations between STADP and the performance on the MMSE (r=0.64), CDT (r=0.50) and VF (r=0.56). Age influenced all sub-items of the STADP, specifically episodic memory (r= -0.54), whereas schooling mainly influenced executive functions and language (r=0.46). The total score, stages A and C and the "proverb recognition" of STADP (p<0.001), as well as the MMSE (p<0.001), CDT (p=0.016), VF (p<0.001) were significantly different in AD versus control groups. Conclusions: The findings point to the potential use of the STADP in AD, warranting the conducting of further studies.

Exploring Time of Day Effects on Mini-Mental State Examination Performance in Alzheimer's Disease and Age-Associated Cognitive Decline

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 212-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle A. Brown ◽  
Margaret Newson ◽  
Judy Haworth ◽  
Gordon K. Wilcock
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Mental State ◽  
Mini Mental State Examination ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cognitive Screening ◽  
State Examination

AbstractNeuropsychological assessment plays a prominent role in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other cognitive impairments. Increasingly, neuropsychological test results are also used to guide clinicians in the prescription of anti-dementia medication. There is evidence to suggest that the cognitive ability of an individual with AD may vary over the course of a day. If time of day can influence an individual's performance on cognitive tests, then it could potentially affect his or her diagnosis and eligibility for treatment. This study set out to explore the effect of time of day on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) performance in individuals with AD and Age-Associated Cognitive Decline (AACD). No significant effect of time of day (TOD) on Folstein MMSE performance was found. However, some interesting results were highlighted and future research suggested. Overall, the study does not provide evidence that time of day needs to be considered when interpreting the result of a short cognitive screening test.

Examination of level of knowledge in Italian general practitioners attending an education session on diagnosis and management of the early stage of Alzheimer's disease: pass or fail?

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 1111-1124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Veneziani ◽  
Francesco Panza ◽  
Vincenzo Solfrizzi ◽  
Rosa Capozzo ◽  
Maria Rosaria Barulli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
General Level ◽  
Diagnosis And Management ◽  
Level Of Knowledge

ABSTRACTBackground:We detected the general level of knowledge about the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and subsequent care in general practitioners (GPs) from Southern Italy. We explored also the GP perception about their knowledge and training on diagnosis and management of AD.Methods:On a sample of 131 GPs, we administered two questionnaires: the GP-Knowledge, evaluating GPs’ expertise about AD epidemiology, differential diagnosis, and available treatments, and the GP-QUestionnaire on Awareness of Dementia (GP-QUAD), assessing the GPs’ attitudes, awareness, and practice regarding early diagnosis of dementia.Results:Specific screening tests or protocols to diagnose and manage dementia were not used by 53% of our GPs. The training on the recognition of early AD signs and symptoms was considered inadequate by 55% of the participants. Females were more likely to consider their training insufficient (58%) compared to males (53%). Female GPs were less likely to prescribe antipsychotic drugs to control neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and suggest specialist advice in late stage of cognitive impairment. Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) performed only on GP-QUAD suggested two dimensions explaining 26.1% (“GP attitude”) and 20.1% (“GP knowledge”) of the inertia for a total of 46.2%,Conclusion:In our survey on GP clinical practice, several problems in properly recognizing early AD symptoms and subsequently screening patients to be referred to secondary/tertiary care centers for diagnosis confirmation have emerged. In the future, specific training programs and educational projects for GPs should be implemented also in Italy to improve detection rates and management of dementia in primary care.

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