title: Validating the Chinese version of the Verbal Learning Test for screening Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Episodic memory tasks are one of the most sensitive tools to discriminate Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to validate a shorter version verbal memory test that will efficiently assess Chinese elderly with memory complaints. One hundred and eighty-five elderly with normal cognition (NC) and 217 AD patients were evaluated. Each participant received the Chinese Version Verbal Learning Test (CVVLT) consisting of 9 two-character nouns with 4 learning trials, 2 delayed recalls in 30 seconds and 10 minutes, and a word recognition test. In the NC elderly, age and sex had significant effects on recall scores in CVVLT, while education level showed an inverse correlation with 3 different patterns of errors made during the learning, recall, and recognition trials. AD patients had lower scores across all recall tests. In those with lower educational level, NC elderly had higher perseveration errors than AD patients. The cutoff value between the AD and NC groups in the 10-minute recall was 4/5 for those aged >75 years and 5/6 for those aged <75 years. This study has good validity in discriminating AD participants and the data here can help in diagnosing AD and mild cognitive impairment using the CVVLT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiung Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Joel H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Ker Neng
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Wen Neng
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ya-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chi-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yu Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ching
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Pei Ning
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D044466:Asian People; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014706:Verbal Learning