title: New computer-based cognitive function test for the elderly.
abstract: We developed a modified trail-making test using a PC and touch panel and compared it with the mini mental state examination (MMSE). The test consisted of a series of numbers from 1 to 36, randomly arranged across the display. The object of the test was for the subject to touch the numbers in order, beginning with 1 and ending with 36, in as little time as possible. The system consisted of a PC and a liquid crystal display (LCD) touch-panel screen. One hundred and thirty-four patients with dementia performed the test. Sixty of the 134 patients (15 male, 45 female; average age, 81.1 +/- 7 years) were diagnosed as having Alzheimer's disease and the others had cerebrovascular dementia. Sixty-two of 134 patients (23 male, 39 female; average age, 77.6 +/- 8 years; MMSE score, 21.5 +/- 5.6 points) completed the test. The correlation coefficient between test performance time and MMSE score was -0.534. This test may also be a useful indicator of focal frontal lesions and can be used as an early screening test for Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Chiba University, Japan. tamurat@faculty.chiba-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tshji
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Higashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sekine
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kohdabashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitsuyama
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014584:User-Computer Interface