Application of total scores of CERAD neuropsychological battery in detecting MCI and dementia in a sample of Egyptian elderly

Abstract

Introduction: Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) is an easy standardized and reliable neuropsychological assessment tool which can differentiate between normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.

Objective: to estimate the cut off points of the Arabic version of CERAD for detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.

Methods: A case control study was conducted and included 150 elderly, 60 years and older, living in the community dwelling in Cairo recruited from geriatric memory and general clinics in Ain-Shams University Hospitals.

They were divided in to 3 equal groups; normal cognition, MCI and dementia according to Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR). Later, their CERAD test was applied, and the test scores were compared.

Results: To differentiate between normal and MCI groups, total score (TS I) cut off point <=82with 96% sensitivity and 80% specificity, total score (TS II) cut off point <=90 with 82% sensitivity and 88% specificity. As regard differentiation between normal and dementia groups, TS I cut off point <=69 with 90% sensitivity and 92% specificity and TS II cut off point <=76 with 90% sensitivity and 92% specificity, while to differentiate between MCI and dementia groups, TS I <=69 with 90% sensitivity and 96% specificity and TS II <=71 with 86% sensitivity and 98% specificity.

Conclusion: Cut off points of the Arabic version of CERAD were estimated to accurately differentiate normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment and dementia.