Comparative study of discerning efficacy of shortened neuropsychological tests on mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Objective To assess the efficacy of shortened neuropsychological tests for discernment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by comparing 3 shortened tests [Animal Fluency Test (AFT), Color Trail Test (CTT) B and Bells Test (BT)], and to provide information for developing brief cognitive screening tool. Methods One hundred and twenty MCI patients and 180 cognitive normal controls (NC) were assessed by a set of standardized comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation including Mini⁃Mental State Examination (MMSE), Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT), Logical Memory Test (LM), Rey⁃Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCFT), Clock Drawing Test (CDT), AFT, Boston Naming Test (BNT), Cancellation Test (CT), Digit Span Test (DS), Stroop Color ⁃ Word Test (CWT), CTT A and B, Similarity Test, BT, Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR), Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL), Self ⁃ Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results 1) AFT: the greatest difference was seen between MCI (12.65 ± 2.83) and NC (14.93 ± 2.49) in 45 s fluency test version (t = 7.315, P = 0.000). 2) CTT: there was significant difference between MCI (9.28 ± 3.53) and NC (13.43 ± 4.12) in terms of 1 min CTT version (t = 9.356, P = 0.000), and in which the differential efficacy nearly approached the full length version. 3) BT: there were significant differences between MCI and NC groups in all 4 scores including accuracy score, time, post⁃ advising accuracy score and total time (t = 4.164, 3.427, 3.616, 5.102, respectively; P = 0.000, for all). The average time for recancellation was 100 s. However, discerning efficacy was not obviously improved after recancellation. Conclusion Appropriately shortened version of Animal Fluency Test, Color Trail Test and Bells Test prensents the same discerning efficacy for MCI as the original versions. It is feasible for MCI screening.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2010.03.014