Title : Ultra-early screening of Slight Cognitive Decline
Abstract:
Adults with the risk of dementia may present reduced cognitive performance several decades before the typical onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is necessary to detect slight cognitive decline in an early stage for timely initiating active interventions. The slight cognitive decline, called the transitional cognitive decline (TCD) defined in the Alzheimer’s continuum in 2018 NIA-AA Research Framework, may be a better time window than mild cognitive impairment (MCI) for early intervention of subjects with Alzheimer disease (AD) risks. The slight cognitive decline may involve memory and other cognitive domains which subjective cognitive decline (SCD) tests cannot assess. Additionally, SCD tests are better to be corroborated by objective cognitive testing. Here, a rapid performance-based screening instrument (the Quick-Cog test) for detecting TCD is introduced. The Quick-Cog test assesses different cognitive domains, including language, orientation in time and space, memory, calculations, attention, conceptual thinking, visuospatial ability, executive function, and processing speed. The Quick-Cog test is designed to avoid celling effects when assessing individuals presenting “normal” performance with an objective cognitive test such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The Quick-Cog test includes several simple questions to avoid floor effects. If serial tests were performed, the performance of each time may be compared to show changes in cognitive function of the subject. When examining healthy college students and community-dwelling elderly people living independently with normal instrumental activities of daily living scores, the Quick-Cog, SCD-9, and MoCA tests were compared the elderly presented greater decline in Quick-Cog scores than those of MoCA and SCD-9 in comparison with the young students. This result indicates that the Quick-Cog test may be used as a sensitive instrument for ultra-early screening of slight cognitive decline.
What will audience learn from your presentation?
- An object cognitive test for the stage Transitional Cognitive Decline is lacking.
- The presentation introduces a practical instrument for ultra-early screening of slight cognitive decline
- The introduced instrument appears to be more sensitive than existed, commonly-used tools.
