title: Applicability of the CANTAB-PAL computerized memory test in identifying amnestic mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the diagnostic accuracy of a computerized test, the CANTAB paired associate learning (PAL) to that of an established and validated noncomputerized test, the CERAD Wordlist Learning task in differentiating between normal aging, aMCI and AD in a cross-sectional design.
  
  
  METHODS
  58 participants were assessed (19 with mild probable AD, 17 aMCI, 22 healthy controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The variables found to best discriminate between the three groups were the CANTAB PAL total errors adjusted (p < 0.0001, 81.0% of the cases correctly classified), and CERAD Wordlist Learning Delayed Recall (p < 0.0001, 77.6% of the cases correctly classified). Using both PAL total errors adjusted and Wordlist Learning Delayed Recall, 84.5% of the cases were correctly classified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the CANTAB could be used for screening of AD-typical memory impairment.
authors.affiliation: Abo Akademi University, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Åbo, Finland. jenny.junkkila@kpshp.fi
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Junkkila
authors.forename: Sakari
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oja
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karrasch
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010153:Paired-Associate Learning