title: Vocabulary is an appropriate measure of premorbid intelligence in a sample with heterogeneous educational level in Brazil.
abstract: Crystallized intelligence refers to one's knowledge base and can be measured by vocabulary tests. Fluid intelligence is related to nonverbal aspects of intelligence, depends very little on previously acquired knowledge, and can be measured by tests such as Block Design (BD) and Raven Colored Matrices (RCM). Premorbid intelligence quotient (IQ) refers to one's intellectual ability level previous to the onset of disorders like mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and it is important to estimate disease severity. The objective was to compare performance in tests that measure crystallized and fluid intelligence in healthy subjects and patients with amnestic MCI (aMCI) and AD. One hundred forty-four participants (aMCI (n = 38), AD (n = 45), and healthy controls (n = 61)) were submitted to neuropsychological tests (WAIS-III vocabulary, BD, and RCM). There were significant among groups, except for vocabulary, indicating a relative stability of crystallized intelligence in the continuum from normal to pathological cognitive decline. Vocabulary seems to be stable during the progression of the disease and useful as a measure of premorbid intelligence, that is, to estimate previous function in relation to the level of education and, as a collateral measure of cognition in people with low education.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Unit, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), 255 Avenue Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, São Paulo 05403-900, SP, Brazil ; Cognitive Disorders Reference Center (CEREDIC), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), 206 Rua Arruda Alvim, Cerqueira Cesar, São Paulo 05419-020, SP, Brazil ; Santa Marcelina Hospital, Neurology Department, 360 Rua Santa Marcelina, Vila Carmosina, São Paulo 08270-070, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maira Okada
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Unit, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), 255 Avenue Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, São Paulo 05403-900, SP, Brazil ; Cognitive Disorders Reference Center (CEREDIC), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), 206 Rua Arruda Alvim, Cerqueira Cesar, São Paulo 05419-020, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nitrini
authors.affiliation: Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Unit, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), 255 Avenue Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, São Paulo 05403-900, SP, Brazil ; School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, 1000 Avenue Arlindo Bettio, São Paulo 03828-000, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mônica Sanches
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yassuda
authors.affiliation: Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology Unit, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), 255 Avenue Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, São Paulo 05403-900, SP, Brazil ; Cognitive Disorders Reference Center (CEREDIC), Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), 206 Rua Arruda Alvim, Cerqueira Cesar, São Paulo 05419-020, SP, Brazil ; Santa Marcelina Hospital, Neurology Department, 360 Rua Santa Marcelina, Vila Carmosina, São Paulo 08270-070, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sonia Maria Dozzi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brucki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D000647:Amnesia / Q000523:psychology*; D001938:Brazil; D003071:Cognition; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014825:Vocabulary