Simple Visual Screening Tool Can Improve Dementia Prediction

Simple Screening Tool can help to predict the risk of dementia. Visual Association Test (VAT) scores can help to identify people who are at higher risk of developing dementia.

Simple visual screening tool can help identify people who are at high risk of developing dementia, suggests a new study.

In people with a minor decline on the Mini-Mental-State-Examination--a widely used but limited test to screen for cognitive defects--follow-up with a simple visual screening tool can help identify those at increased risk for dementia.

Dementia - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Dementia has become a very big concern as we have an aging population across the world. Dementia is also terrifying to us because of its disturbing symptoms and limited treatment options.

‘Visual Association Test (VAT) scores can help to predict the risk of dementia in older adults.’

As part of a cluster-randomized controlled trial, researchers in the Netherlands analyzed the MMSE of 2690 older adult patients at baseline and two-year follow-up.

The Visual Association Test, consisting of six cue cards and six target cards showing an unexpected visual association, was also analyzed at the two-year follow-up. A decline in MMSE scores of two points and three points were associated with an increased risk of developing dementia of 10 percent and 21 percent respectively, significantly higher than the overall risk of developing dementia.

Groups with imperfect VAT scores (?5 out of six) had substantially higher percentages of incident dementia. An imperfect VAT score increased the predictive value of two and three-point decreases on the MMSE from 10 percent to 14 percent and from 21 percent to 29 percent respectively.

Depression a Risk of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Individuals with worse depression and mood symptoms are more likely to develop Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and to progress from MCI to dementia. Evaluation and treatment of symptoms of depression may improve or maintain cognitive functioning in some older patients diagnosed with MCI.

Given the importance of timely diagnosis of dementia, the authors suggest that the VAT may help identify older persons who need further cognitive examination, especially those with a minor decline in MMSE score.

Source-Eurekalert

Prolonged Use of Anti-Epileptic Drugs Can Increase the Risk of Dementia
Prolonged use of anti-epileptic drugs can increase the risk of Dementia and Alzheimer's disease in patients, finds a new study.

New �Brain Health Index� can Predict If You are at Risk of Dementia
A new computer program developed helps predict the risk of developing dementia after stroke. Brain health index can assess whole brain deterioration and detect cognitive decline 10 times more accurately.