title: Visual-spatial perception: a comparison between instruments frequently used in the primary care setting and a computerized cognitive assessment battery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of screening instruments will help the primary care team to determine when further comprehensive cognitive assessment is necessary.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis based on medical records.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients referred to a comprehensive geriatric assessment unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cognitive screening and assessment included visual-spatial components: the Mini Mental State Examination, the Clock Drawing Test, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test, and the Neurotrax (Mindstreams) computerized cognitive assessment battery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of the 190 eligible patients was 81.09±5.42 years. Comparing the individual tests with that of the visual-spatial index of Neurotrax, we found the Trail Making B test to be most sensitive (72.4%) and the Cube Test to have the highest specificity (72.8%). A combination of tests resulted in higher sensitivity and lower specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a combination of visual-spatial tests for screening in neurocognitive disorders should be evaluated in further prospective studies.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Unit, Clalit Health Care Services, Yassky Clinic, Israel ; Sial Center for Research in Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel ; Community-Based Geriatric Unit, The Division of Community Health, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Punchik
authors.affiliation: Sial Center for Research in Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Avital
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shapovalov
authors.affiliation: Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel ; Geriatric Unit, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Tzvi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dwolatzky
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Unit, Clalit Health Care Services, Yassky Clinic, Israel ; Sial Center for Research in Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel ; Community-Based Geriatric Unit, The Division of Community Health, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Press
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D065855:Spatial Processing
keywords: cognitive assessment; mild cognitive impairment; screening tools; visual-spatial perception