Screening for dementia with the Vienna Visuo-Constructional Test 3.0 screening (VVT 3.0 screening)

Gender differences in neurocognitive assessments: insights from a pilot study with the International Neurocognitive Test Profile (INCP) digital battery

BACKGROUND

The aging global population has led to an increase in the number of dementia diagnoses, with projections indicating a continued upward trend. This demographic change presents profound challenges for patients, their families, and healthcare systems worldwide. Consequently, the demand for reliable and user-friendly screening tools that can detect dementia at early stages and monitor its progression is more critical than ever. The International Neurocognitive Test Profile (INCP), developed at the Medical University of Vienna, aims to address this need by offering a digital test battery for the early detection of dementia. This study forms a part of the INCP's ongoing development and evaluation, specifically investigating the influence of gender on test outcomes.

METHODS

Seventy participants, recruited through flyers at the Vienna General Hospital, completed the INCP assessment using tablets as part of the study. The effect of gender on performance across various INCP subtests was analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests. For further exploratory analysis, a correlation matrix was calculated encompassing demographic variables (age and education), screening data, and all INCP subtests.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed significant gender differences in two INCP subtests related to executive functions. Males outperformed females on the Figure Fluency Test (r = 0.30, indicating a moderate effect) and the Dice 2‑n Back Test (r = 0.29, indicating a small effect). However, when correcting for multiple comparisons, no significant gender disparities were observed in the scores of the subtests.

CONCLUSION

The identification of possible gender differences in specific subtests underscores the importance of considering gender as a variable in the further development and evaluation of the INCP. These findings offer valuable insights for the design and planning of future studies involving the INCP.

Olfaction and thyroid hormones in patients with subjective cognitive decline, non-amnestic and amnestic mild cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

Thyroid hormones may affect olfaction in different stages of cognitive impairment: subjective cognitive decline (SCD), non-amnestic (naMCI) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). Additionally, biometric parameters, depression, and neuropsychological performance are considered as possible influencing factors.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

A retrospective single-center data analysis was conducted during the observation period 2001-2023, with n = 495 (52.3% female) SCD, naMCI and aMCI subjects, aged ≥50 years, at the General Hospital of Vienna.

MEASUREMENTS

The criterion olfactory function was objectively measured by Sniffin' Sticks© odor identification and subjectively through the Assessment of Self-Reported Olfactory Functioning test. Serum thyroid hormone levels, mainly thyroid-stimulating hormone, as well as T3, T4, fT3, and fT4, were used to assess thyroid function. Statistical analyses using IBM SPSS® 29.0.0 covered adjusted multiple linear regression models with hierarchical blocks to predict olfactory performance considering β‑weights.

RESULTS

Of the study participants, 4.2% had hypothyroidism and 2.4% had hyperthyroidism. The majority exhibited normal thyroid function. One third (33.5%; 95% confidence interval, CI 29.4-37.0%) were hyposmic. The results indicate no substantial association between thyroid and olfactory functions. Increasing age (β = 0.20), lower performance in the Neuropsychological Test Battery Vienna (NTBV) dimensions verbal memory (β = -0.33) and attention (β = -0.12) appear to be risk factors for lower olfaction. A discrepancy between subjective and objective olfaction was found.

CONCLUSION

Thyroid and olfactory functions had no substantial relationship. Higher fT4 correlated weakly with lower odor identification. Increasing age and decreased performance in two out of six NTBV dimensions are relevant prognostic factors for olfactory dysfunction.

Drawing a line?-Visuo-constructive function as discriminator between healthy individuals, subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease and predictor of disease progress compared to a multimodal approach

PURPOSE

One cognitive domain impaired in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is visuo-construction. The Vienna Visuo-constructional Test 3.0 Screening (VVT 3.0 Screening) measures this cognitive domain. This study examines how it works in the differentiation of AD from healthy controls (HC) and the prodromal stages subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and also how it performs in prediction of progress compared to the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Sunderland Clock Drawing Test (CDT).

METHODS

Data from 622 patients (33 HC, 68 SCD, 301 MCI, 220 AD) who completed all three tests were obtained. Furthermore, 117 patients were examined in a follow-up. Data were analyzed in a retrospective analysis comparing the validity of tests in diagnosis and prediction using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves and multinominal logistic regression.

RESULTS

The VVT 3.0 Screening shows some ability to discriminate between AD and all other participants (sensitivity: 62.1%, specificity: 83.1%), while of the three examined tests none was able to predict membership to all experimental groups or to predict disease-progress adequately. As the VVT 3.0 Screening is short, easy to apply and largely language independent, it can be considered an alternative to the MMSE in certain situations.

CONCLUSIONS

The VVT 3.0 Screening is useful to discriminate between AD and all other participants and can be an alternative to the MMSE in certain situations.

Comparing a visual and verbal semantic memory test on the effects of gender, age and education as assessed in a cognitively healthy sample : A pilot study in the development of the international neuropsychological test profile-a tablet-based cognitive assessment

Background

Due to the increase of dementia diagnoses and individuals interested in monitoring their cognitive status, practical new neuropsychological tests are needed. Tablet-based tests offer a good alternative to traditional paper–pencil tests, as they can be completed remotely and independently. This study assessed two semantic memory tests (verbal and visual memory), in the scope of the creation of a new tablet-based battery—the International Neurocognitive Profil (INCP)—on the influences of demographic variables.

Methods

In all, 46 cognitively healthy participants who recruited at the memory clinic of the Medical University of Vienna were included in this study. They were asked to complete two tests of semantic memory and implicit learning: Capital Knowledge (CK) using verbal input and Flag Knowledge (FK) using visual input. Performance on the two tests was analysed according to influences of gender and age using two analyses of variance. Post hoc comparisons between age and gender groups were performed. In addition, correlational analyses were computed to assess strengths of association with age, gender and education.

Results

FK- and CK-based measures were found to be influenced by demographic variables with semantic memory measures being significantly influenced by gender and education while incidental memory measures were influenced by age. Performances differed between FK and CK showing that the mode of testing (visual, verbal) affected participant’s performance.

Conclusion

These findings are important for the creation of normative samples for both CK and FK. Furthermore, this study underlines the importance of using different testing modes when assessing individuals’ semantic memory.