Category verbal fluency test performance in chinese elderly with Alzheimer's disease.
BACKGROUND
The applicability of category verbal fluency test (VFT) as a screening test for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the Chinese population was studied.


METHODS
VFTs with categories of 'animal', 'fruit' and 'vegetable' were administrated to 72 subjects with AD and 81 aged-matched, community-dwelling, non-demented elderly (NC) in Hong Kong.


RESULTS
A significant difference in VFT scores between NC and AD groups was found (t-test, p < 0.05). CMMSE scores were significantly correlated with VFT performances in both subject groups. The correlation of combined VFT scores with age and educational level was significant only in the NC group (Pearson correlation, p < 0.05). At a cut-off score of 24/25, the sensitivity and specificity of the VFT in screening of dementia were 86.8 and 93.4% for subjects with no formal education. For literate subjects, an optimal cut-off score of 31/32 was identified across different educational levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Although VFT performance was influenced by demographic factors like age and education, cognitive function was the most determining factor. With easy administration and satisfactory sensitivity and specificity, VFT is a useful and quick clinical screening test for AD in Chinese elderly.
Mok
Edward Hei Lim
EH
Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR.
Lam
Linda Chiu Wa
LC
Chiu
Helen Fung Kum
HF
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012660:Semantics; D013068:Speech Production Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014705:Verbal Behavior