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New test enables rapid detection of mild cognitive impairment as well as dementia

Date:
March 5, 2021
Source:
Kanazawa University
Summary:
Researchers have developed a new test for dementia and mild cognitive impairment. The computerized assessment battery for cognition (C-ABC) was able to accurately discriminate mild cognitive impairment from normal cognition, and also distinguish dementia from mild cognitive impairment and normal cognition, and took only 5 minutes to complete. This test could increase the early detection of dementia, thus improving treatment options and outcomes for this patient group.
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FULL STORY

As the global population ages, the rate of dementia is increasing worldwide. Given that early detection is critical for treatment, effective ways to screen for dementia are a high research priority. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a new screening tool that can be administered in a matter of minutes.

In a study published inPLOS ONE, researchers from Kanazawa University have revealed a new computerized cognitive test, termed the computerized assessment battery for cognition (C-ABC), which they found to be effective in screening for both dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in just 5 minutes.

Computerized cognitive tests are frequently chosen over paper-and-pencil versions because they are more precise and do not require training to administer. However, computerized cognitive tests for dementia and MCI generally take 10-30 minutes to complete. Further, the wide range of existing tests can make it difficult for healthcare practitioners to choose one that is suitable for detecting dementia or MCI. The researchers at Kanazawa University aimed to address this by creating a test that could be used to accurately and efficiently screen for both conditions.

"Although patients with dementia usually have disorientation and severe memory disturbance, those with MCI and those with normal cognition rarely have both," says co-lead author of the study Moeko Noguchi-Shinohara. "We wanted to develop a test that could distinguish these cognitive states in an efficient manner."

To do this, the researchers collected C-ABC scores from participants in different age groups (50s, 60s, and those aged 70-85 years) with dementia, MCI, and normal cognition. They then conducted a range of statistical tests to determine whether the test could distinguish normal cognition, dementia, and MCI.

"The results were surprising," explains Masahito Yamada, senior author. "We found that the C-ABC could distinguish individuals with MCI from those with normal cognition using scores from items that only took 5 minutes to complete."

In fact, in the 75-80 age group, answers from just two questions could distinguish participants with MCI from those with normal cognition, and these two items took just 2 minutes to complete.

"When we compared our C-ABS scores with those from the frequently used Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), we found a high correlation. However, the C-ABC is substantially faster to complete than the MMSE, and may be more sensitive to MCI or mild dementia," says Yamada.

The data indicate that when used with a high cut-off score for sensitivity, the C-ABC is appropriate for initial screening for dementia and MCI. This new tool could make cognitive screening more accessible and efficient, thus enabling earlier detection of MCI or dementia. This, in turn, could improve the treatment options and overall outcome for individuals with MCI or dementia.

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Story Source:

Materialsprovided byKanazawa University.注意:内容可能被编辑风格d length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Moeko Noguchi-Shinohara, Chiaki Domoto, Taketoshi Yoshida, Kozue Niwa, Sohshi Yuki-Nozaki, Miharu Samuraki-Yokohama, Kenji Sakai, Tsuyoshi Hamaguchi, Kenjiro Ono, Kazuo Iwasa, Ichiro Matsunari, Kiyonobu Komai, Hiroyuki Nakamura, Masahito Yamada.A new computerized assessment battery for cognition (C-ABC) to detect mild cognitive impairment and dementia around 5 min.PLOS ONE, 2020; 15 (12): e0243469 DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0243469

Cite This Page:

Kanazawa University. "New test enables rapid detection of mild cognitive impairment as well as dementia." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5 March 2021. .
Kanazawa University. (2021, March 5). New test enables rapid detection of mild cognitive impairment as well as dementia.ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 25, 2023 from www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/03/210305100314.htm
Kanazawa University. "New test enables rapid detection of mild cognitive impairment as well as dementia." ScienceDaily. www.koonmotors.com/releases/2021/03/210305100314.htm (accessed June 25, 2023).

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