The Amsterdam Dementia Screening Test (ADS) in the elderly without neurocognitive disorder:Implications for clinical practice

The six tests in the Amsterdam Dementia Screening Test(ADST) examine the cognitive domains of episodic memory(delayed picture recognition, word learning), orientation,category fluency (animals and occupations), constructionalability (figure copying) and executive function(alternating sequences). New normative data werecollected in a sample of 102 elderly volunteers (aged65–94), including subjects with medical or other healthconditions, except dementia or frank cognitive impairment(MMSE > 24). Included subjects were independentin complex instrumental activities of daily living.Fluency, not the other tests, needed adjustment forage andeducation. Adeficit score (0–1)wascomputed foreach test. Summation (range 0–6) proved useful in differentiatingpatients with dementia (N = 741) from normalelderly (N = 102).Positive and negative predictive power across a rangeof summed deficit scores and base rates are displayed inBayesian probability tables.In the normal elderly, delayed recall for eight wordswas tested and adjusted for initial recall. A recognitiontest mixed the target words with eight distractors. Delayedrecognition was adjusted for immediate and delayedrecall.The ADST and the normative data in this paper helpthe clinical neuropsychologist to make decisions concerningthe presence or absence of neurocognitive disorder inindividual elderly examinees