This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Gualtieri, C. T. Articles by Johnson, L. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gualtieri, C. T. Articles by Johnson, L. G. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Neurocognitive testing supports a broader concept of mild cognitive impairment

Lynda G. Johnson, PhD

North Carolina Neuropsychiatry Clinics, Chapel Hill/Charlotte, North Carolina.

The narrow concept of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as an early form of Alzheimer’s disease has been broadened by research that established the existence of alternative forms of the condition that may presage other forms of dementia. The research presented here was a naturalistic, cross-sectional study of patients in a community referral clinic—patients with MCI and mild dementia—compared to normal controls.

A comprehensive, computerized neurocognitive screening battery developed by one of the authors (CNS Vital Signs) was administered to all of the subjects. Participants consisted of 36 patients with MCI and 53 patients with mild dementia, diagnosed by standard criteria, and 89 matched normal controls. Multivariate analysis indicated significant differences among the three groups for all 15 primary test variables and for all five of the domain scores. Tests of memory, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility were the most cogent discriminators between normal controls and MCI patients, and between MCI patients and patients with mild dementia. The same three tests also had the greatest sensitivity and specificity.

The results of this study indicate that computerized testing can differentiate among normal controls, MCI patients, and patients with mild dementia. Also, in a diverse group of MCI and mild dementia patients, impairments in memory, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility were the most prominent observed deficits.

Key Words: neurocognitive testing • mild cognitive impairment • computerized testing • sensitivity

American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias®, Vol. 20, No. 6, 359-366 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/153331750502000607


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. M. Doniger, M.-Y. Jo, E. S. Simon, and H. A. Crystal Computerized Cognitive Assessment of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Urban African Americans American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, October 1, 2009; 24(5): 396 - 403. [Abstract] [PDF]