[Evaluation of the diagnostic value of a Spanish adaptation of the Buschke Memory Impairment Screen in the detection of dementia and cognitive impairment].
BACKGROUND
Screening tests for dementia are a fundamental tool in specialist consultation and primary care. The instruments currently used are time-consuming and the diagnostic performance they offer is rather poor. The original version of the Buschke Memory Impairment Screen (MIS) is a quick simple test with high discriminatory power.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to validate a Spanish version of the MIS in specialist consultation.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective study in 91 subjects aged over 60 who visited the outpatient department for cognitive evaluation. All the patients received a similar diagnostic evaluation and the MIS was administered as a blind test. This Spanish version of the MIS was produced by means of a cross-cultural adaptation.


RESULTS
The area below the ROC curve for dementia on the MIS was 0.92, with a similar result for cognitive deterioration (CD). A cut-off score of 4 or less offered a sensitivity rate of 91.9% (CI 95%: 83.4-96.4%) and a specificity level of 81.0% (CI 95%; 70.3-88.6%) for the detection of CD. Likewise, a cut-off score of 3 or below presented a sensitivity rate of 96.1% (CI 95%: 85.7-99.3%) and a degree of specificity of 72.6% (CI 95%: 63.2-80.3%) for the detection of dementia. Interobserver and test-retest reliability (0.85 and 0.81, respectively) were adequate.


CONCLUSIONS
This version of the Buschke MIS offers a high level of discriminatory power both for dementia and for CD, as well as an adequate degree of inter and intraobserver reliability within the context of a specialist consultation. Because it is quick (less than 4 minutes) and simple to administer, MIS represents a reasonable alternative to other screening methods.
Pérez-Martinez
D A
DA
Unidad de Neurología, Hospital Central de la Cruz Roja, Avda. Reina Victoria 22-26, E-28003 Madrid, Spain. daperezm@yahoo.com
Baztán
J J
JJ
González-Becerra
M
M
Socorro
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013030:Spain