Predicting estimates of premorbid memory functioning: validation in a dementia sample.
Formulae to estimate premorbid memory functioning in a sample of cognitively intact older adults have been developed. These formulae were validated in a small sample of patients with amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. However, further validation is clearly needed. The current study applied these formulae to a sample of 1,059 patients referred to a dementia clinic and compared the premorbid estimates of memory functioning with current memory abilities. Large and statistically significant differences were observed in the current sample, with premorbid memory scores exceeding current memory scores. Although some cautions should be observed when using these estimates clinically, growing support for these estimates of premorbid memory abilities may aid clinicians in determining change across time in older patients.
Center for Alzheimer's Care, Imaging and Research, Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, 84108, USA. kevin.duff@hsc.utah.edu
Kevin
K
Duff
Gordon J
GJ
Chelune
Kathryn
K
Dennett
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology