To what extent can the Addenbrooke’s cognitive examination revised (ACE-R) be used in the early diagnosis of dementia?

This study investigates the extent to which the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE; embedded within the ACE-R) can be utilised within memory assessment services in the early diagnosis of dementia. The literature in this field suggests that the ACE-R distinguishes well between those who do not have clinical levels of cognitive impairment and those who have dementia. However, it has been stated that the ACE-R is less accurate when differentiating between dementia subtypes and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A descriptive non-experimental method in the form of a clinical audit was used for this study. All participants (N = 110; Males = 51, Females = 59) were patients who had attended a memory assessment clinic and were given a diagnosis of MCI before being subsequently tested for dementia. The logistic regression analysis indicated that only the ACE-R had predictive value when looking at the accurate identification of a dementia diagnosis. Tests of sensitivity and specificity found the ACE-R to have a lower cut off score than expected (Criterion = ≤80; Sensitivity = 76.81, Specificity = 85.37). This study also found that more than 50% of participants converted from an MCI to dementia diagnosis in an average of 12 months after the first point of testing. The findings from this research adds to the field by suggesting that it may be time to research the use of different cognitive screening tools, in order to provide treatment to patients living with dementia as soon as possible. Keywords: Dementia; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Screening Tools; Memory Assessment; Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised