Version 1
: Received: 11 April 2023 / Approved: 12 April 2023 / Online: 12 April 2023 (04:04:12 CEST)
How to cite:
Larner, A.J. Cognitive Screening in Older People Using Free-Cog and Mini-Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (MACE). Preprints2023, 2023040237. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202304.0237.v1
Larner, A.J. Cognitive Screening in Older People Using Free-Cog and Mini-Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (MACE). Preprints 2023, 2023040237. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202304.0237.v1
Larner, A.J. Cognitive Screening in Older People Using Free-Cog and Mini-Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (MACE). Preprints2023, 2023040237. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202304.0237.v1
APA Style
Larner, A.J. (2023). Cognitive Screening in Older People Using Free-Cog and Mini-Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (MACE). Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202304.0237.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Larner, A.J. 2023 "Cognitive Screening in Older People Using Free-Cog and Mini-Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (MACE)" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202304.0237.v1
Abstract
Ageing is the strongest known risk factor for many of the neurodegenerative diseases causing cognitive decline and dementia. Identification of cognitive impairment may be a prelude to appropriate treatment, hopefully disease-modifying. Use of cognitive screening instruments may be an equitable way to identify cognitive impairment. This study examined the use of two such instruments, Free-Cog and Mini-Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (MACE), in patient cohorts referred to a dedicated cognitive disorders clinic based at a tertiary neurosciences centre. Results showed that: (1) specificity and positive predictive value increased with patient age for both tests with some loss of sensitivity and negative predictive value. (2) In the oldest age groups (≥75 and ≥70 years respectively) where specificity was at maximum, a positive test result (i.e. below the specified test cut-off) rules in the diagnosis of cognitive impairment. (3) Values of an “Efficiency Index” for each test indicated qualitatively a moderate change in the probability of correct diagnosis and quantitatively an approximately 15-25% increase in the probability of correct diagnosis. These findings show that both Free-Cog and MACE may be used with confidence for the identification of cognitive impairment and dementia in older patient cohorts. These findings may have implications for public health policies directed to case-finding in clinical practice as opposed to population-based screening.
Medicine and Pharmacology, Neuroscience and Neurology
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
