title: Applause sign: screening utility for dementia and cognitive impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the diagnostic utility of applause sign scores for the diagnosis of dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive unselected new outpatient referrals to a dedicated cognitive disorders clinic over a 12-month period were administered the clapping test. Criterion diagnosis was by usual clinic assessment using standard diagnostic criteria, blind to applause sign score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Applause sign scores differed significantly (p < 0.001) between diagnostic groups (dementia, mild cognitive impairment, subjective memory complaint) and did not correlate with other cognitive screening instrument scores. Nearly three-quarters of those with an abnormal score had cognitive impairment. Applause sign score was specific but not sensitive for a diagnosis of cognitive impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The applause sign supports a diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment in high prevalence settings and may be useful in conjunction with other cognitive screening tests.
authors.affiliation: a Cognitive Function Clinic , Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery , Liverpool , UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonello
authors.affiliation: a Cognitive Function Clinic , Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery , Liverpool , UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Larner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D000067716:Point-of-Care Testing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Applause sign; dementia; diagnosis; mild cognitive impairment; sensitivity and specificity; subjective memory complaint