Accuracy of prospective memory tests in mild Alzheimer's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To verify the accuracy of prospective memory (ProM) tests in Alzheimer's disease (AD).


METHODS
Twenty mild AD patients (CDR 1), and 20 controls underwent Digit Span (DS), Trail Making (TM) A and B, visual perception, Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning tests, and Cornell Scale for Depression. AD diagnosis was based on DSM-IV and NINCDS-ADRDA criteria. ProM was assessed with the appointment and belonging subtests of Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test (RBMT); and with two new tests (the clock and animal tests).


RESULTS
AD patients had a worse performance than controls on the majority of tests, except DS forward and TM-A. There was no correlation between RBMT and the new ProM tests. As for accuracy, the only significant difference concerned the higher sensitivity of our animal test versus the RBMT belonging test.


CONCLUSIONS
The clock and the animal tests showed similar specificity, but higher sensitivity than the RBMT subtests.
State University of Campinas, SP, Brazil.
Sergilaine Pereira
SP
Martins
Benito Pereira
BP
Damasceno
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity