Executive function impairment in community elderly subjects with questionable dementia.
BACKGROUND
The neurocognitive profile of community-dwelling Chinese subjects with 'questionable' dementia was studied.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty-four ambulatory Chinese subjects were recruited from local social centers for the elderly. Each subject was examined using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), the Cantonese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (CMMSE), the Chinese version of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog), the Category Verbal Fluency Test (CVFT), digit and visual span tests, and the Cambridge Neurological Inventory. The neurocognitive profile of nondemented subjects (CDR 0) was compared with that of subjects with 'questionable' dementia (CDR 0.5).


RESULTS
Subjects with 'questionable' dementia were older, and had lower educational levels and global cognitive assessment scores than the controls (CMMSE and ADAS-Cog; t tests, p < 0.001). In addition, they also had significantly lower scores in delayed recall, reverse span, verbal fluency tests and worse performance in complex motor tasks related to executive function (Mann-Whitney tests, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that ADAS-Cog, CVFT, and reverse visual span were significant predictors for the CDR of 'questionable' dementia.


CONCLUSIONS
Aside from memory impairment, executive function deficits were also present in subjects with 'questionable' dementia. To identify groups cognitively at risk for dementia, concomitant assessments of memory and executive function are suggested.
Lam
Linda C W
LC
Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR. cwlam@cuhk.edu.hk
Lui
Victor W C
VW
Chiu
Helen F K
HF
Chan
Sandra S M
SS
Tam
Cindy W C
CW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008609:Mental Status Schedule / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011340:Problem Solving; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012306:Risk