Dementia history and symptoms: Difference between revisions

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===Other examinations===
===Other examinations===
Many other tests have been studied <ref name="pmid17163083">{{cite journal |author=Sager, M.; Hermann, B.; La Rue, A.; & Woodard, J.|title=Screening for dementia in community-based memory clinics |journal=WMJ |volume=105 |issue=7 |pages=25-9 |year=2006|pmid=17163083}}</ref><ref name="pmid17287448">{{cite journal |author=Fleisher, A.; Sowell B.; Taylor C.; Gamst A.; Petersen R.; & Thal L. |title=Clinical predictors of progression to Alzheimer disease in amnestic mild cognitive impairment |journal=Neurology|volume= |issue= |pages= |year= |pmid=17287448}}</ref> <ref name="pmid12614094">{{cite journal |author=Karlawish, J. & Clark, C.|title=Diagnostic evaluation of elderly patients with mild memory problems |journal=Ann Intern Med |volume=138 |issue=5 |pages=411-9|year=2003 |pmid=12614094 | url=http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/138/5/411}}</ref> including the clock-drawing test[http://jnnp.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/64/5/588/F3 example form]). Although some may emerge as better alternatives to the MMSE, presently the MMSE is the best studied. However, access to the MMSE is now limited by enforcement of its copyright ([[mini mental state examination |details]]).
Many other tests have been studied <ref name="pmid17163083">{{cite journal |author=Sager, M.; Hermann, B.; La Rue, A.; & Woodard, J.|title=Screening for dementia in community-based memory clinics |journal=WMJ |volume=105 |issue=7 |pages=25-9 |year=2006|pmid=17163083}}</ref><ref name="pmid17287448">{{cite journal |author=Fleisher, A.; Sowell B.; Taylor C.; Gamst A.; Petersen R.; & Thal L. |title=Clinical predictors of progression to Alzheimer disease in amnestic mild cognitive impairment |journal=Neurology|volume= |issue= |pages= |year= |pmid=17287448}}</ref> <ref name="pmid12614094">{{cite journal |author=Karlawish, J. & Clark, C.|title=Diagnostic evaluation of elderly patients with mild memory problems |journal=Ann Intern Med |volume=138 |issue=5 |pages=411-9|year=2003 |pmid=12614094 | url=http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/138/5/411}}</ref> including the clock-drawing test [http://jnnp.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/64/5/588/F3 example form]). Although some may emerge as better alternatives to the MMSE, presently the MMSE is the best studied. However, access to the MMSE is now limited by enforcement of its copyright ([[mini mental state examination |details]]).


Further evaluation includes retesting at another date, and administration of other (and sometimes more complex) tests of mental function, such as formal neuropsychological testing.
Further evaluation includes retesting at another date, and administration of other (and sometimes more complex) tests of mental function, such as formal neuropsychological testing.

Revision as of 19:24, 28 August 2012

Dementia Microchapters

Patient Information

Overview

Classification

Causes

Differential Diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

History and symptoms

The final diagnosis of dementia is made on the basis of the clinical picture, increasingly with neuroimaging results for backup. For research purposes, the diagnosis depends on both a clinical diagnosis and a pathological diagnosis (i.e., based on the examination of brain tissue, usually from autopsy).

Proper differential diagnosis between the types of dementia (see below) will require, at the least, referral to a specialist, e.g. a geriatric internist, geriatric psychiatrist, neurologist, neuropsychologist or geropsychologist. However, there are some brief (5-15 minutes) tests that have good reliability and can be used in the office or other setting to evaluate cognitive status. Examples of such tests include the abbreviated mental test score (AMTS), the mini mental state examination (MMSE), Modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS)[1], the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI)[2], and the clock drawing test[3].

An AMTS score of less than six (out of a possible score of ten) and an MMSE score under 24 (out of a possible score of 30) suggests a need for further evaluation. Scores must be interpreted in the context of the person's educational and other background, and the particular circumstances (for example, a person in great pain will not be expected to do well on many tests of mental ability).

Mini-mental state examination

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) reviewed tests for cognitive impairment and concluded [4]:

sensitivity 71% to 92%
specificity 56% to 96%

A copy of the MMSE can be found in the appendix of the original publication.[5]

Modified Mini-Mental State examination (3MS)

A copy of the 3MS is online.[6] A meta-analysis concluded that the Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS) examination has:[7]

sensitivity 83% to 94%
specificity 85% to 90%

Abbreviated mental test score

A meta-analysis concluded:[7]

sensitivity 73% to 100%
specificity 71% to 100%

Other examinations

Many other tests have been studied [8][9] [10] including the clock-drawing test example form). Although some may emerge as better alternatives to the MMSE, presently the MMSE is the best studied. However, access to the MMSE is now limited by enforcement of its copyright (details).

Further evaluation includes retesting at another date, and administration of other (and sometimes more complex) tests of mental function, such as formal neuropsychological testing.

Associated Conditions

Criteria for Diagnosis

  • Amnesia
  • Impairment of abstract thinking
  • Limited judgment ability
  • Orientation disturbances
  • Impairment of higher cognitive functions:

Severity of Dementia

  • Mild: Independet personal hygiene and judgment are retained, but a reduced performance in social activities or household activities is noticed
  • Medium: Some monitoring necessary, living independently is dangerous
  • Severe: Permanent care and monitoring absolutely necessary, serious loss of independence

References

  1. Teng E L, Chui H C. The Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS) examination. J Clin Psychiatry 1987;48:314–18. PMID 3611032
  2. Teng E L, Hasegawa K, Homma A, et al. The Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI): a practical test for cross-cultural epidemiological studies of dementia. Int Psychogeriatr 1994;6:45–58. PMID 8054493
  3. Royall, D.; Cordes J.; & Polk M. (1998). "CLOX: an executive clock drawing task". J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 64 (5): 588–94. PMID 9598672.
  4. Boustani, M.; Peterson, B.; Hanson, L.; Harris, R.; & Lohr, K. (2003). "Screening for dementia in primary care: a summary of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force". Ann Intern Med. 138 (11): 927–37. PMID 12779304.
  5. Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR (1975). ""Mini-mental state". A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician". Journal of psychiatric research. 12 (3): 189–98. doi:10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6. PMID 1202204.
  6. "Appendix: The Modified Mini-Mental State (3MS)". Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Cullen B, O'Neill B, Evans JJ, Coen RF, Lawlor BA. A review of screening tests for cognitive impairment. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2007 Aug;78(8):790-9. Epub 2006 Dec 18. PMID 17178826
  8. Sager, M.; Hermann, B.; La Rue, A.; & Woodard, J. (2006). "Screening for dementia in community-based memory clinics". WMJ. 105 (7): 25–9. PMID 17163083.
  9. Fleisher, A.; Sowell B.; Taylor C.; Gamst A.; Petersen R.; & Thal L. "Clinical predictors of progression to Alzheimer disease in amnestic mild cognitive impairment". Neurology. PMID 17287448.
  10. Karlawish, J. & Clark, C. (2003). "Diagnostic evaluation of elderly patients with mild memory problems". Ann Intern Med. 138 (5): 411–9. PMID 12614094.

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