title: Neuropsychological predictors of dementia in a three-year follow-up period: data from the LADIS study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  White matter changes (WMC) are related to cognitive deficits and dementia. Our aim was to determine the extent to which the performance in neuropsychological tests would be able to predict the clinical diagnosis of dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The LADIS (Leukoaraiosis and Disability) is a prospective study that evaluates the impact of WMC on the transition of independent elderly to disability. The subjects were evaluated at baseline and yearly during 3 years with a comprehensive clinical, functional and neuropsychological protocol. At each visit, dementia was classified according to clinical criteria. The performance in the neuropsychological batteries was compared according to the clinical diagnosis of dementia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the initially enrolled 639 subjects, 480 were evaluated at year 3. Dementia was diagnosed in 90 participants. The demented subjects had worse performance in almost all the baseline cognitive tests. Using receiver operating characteristic curves, we found that the Vascular Dementia Assessment Scale (VADAS) battery had higher sensitivity and specificity rates (area under the curve = 82%) to identify dementia compared with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale. Worse performance on baseline MMSE (beta = 0.33; p < 0.001) and VADAS (beta = -0.07; p = 0.02) were predictors of dementia (regression analyses).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Performance on the MMSE and the VADAS battery were important predictors of dementia at a 3-year period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Santa Maria Hospital, University of Lisbon, Portugal. pmadureira @ fm.ul.pt
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madureira
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verdelho
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moleiro
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erkinjuntti
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jokinen
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pantoni
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fazekas
authors.forename: Wiesje
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van der Flier
authors.forename: Marieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: Gunhild
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Waldemar
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wallin
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hennerici
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Inzitari
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity