Neuropsychological performance differences between two groups of probable-AD patients from different areas of Brazil

ABSTRACT During normal aging there are some cognitive and behavioral changes similar to those observed in a transitional state or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early onset dementia, making it challenging for health care professionals to reach an accurate and reliable diagnosis. Objective: The...

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Main Authors: Analucy Aury Vieira de Oliveira, Corina Satler, Carlos Tomaz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento
Series:Dementia & Neuropsychologia
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642012000200097&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Analucy Aury Vieira de Oliveira
Corina Satler
Carlos Tomaz
author_facet Analucy Aury Vieira de Oliveira
Corina Satler
Carlos Tomaz
author_sort Analucy Aury Vieira de Oliveira
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT During normal aging there are some cognitive and behavioral changes similar to those observed in a transitional state or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early onset dementia, making it challenging for health care professionals to reach an accurate and reliable diagnosis. Objective: The current study examined the performance of two different groups of patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) on a neuropsychological test battery. Methods: Twenty-two AD patients from Brasília-DF (AD1) and thirty-four AD patients from Palmas-TO, northern Brazil (AD2), were selected and a short neuropsychological battery administered. To verify the reliability of these previous diagnoses of AD, both groups of patients were compared with a group of healthy controls. Results: AD patients showed cognitive deficit but scores were lower for the AD2 group compared with the AD1 group considering the cut-off point. Notably, patients from the AD1 group were older (p=0.004) and had less formal education (p<0.001) than those from the AD2 group. Comparing different cognitive domains between AD groups, post hoc analysis showed that the AD1 group was characterized by deficits in episodic memory retrieval (p<0.001), semantic memory (p<0.001) and verbal fluency (p<0.001). In contrast, the AD2 group showed lower scores in attention (p=0.007), executive functioning (p<0.001) and working memory (p<0.001). Conclusion: This pattern suggests that the Palma group of patients had a neuropsychological profile that was inconsistent with AD. Although the results of this study have important clinical implications, the effects of age, education, and gender on cognitive performance should be explored further.
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spelling doaj.art-d48132eb43e84b4f866db6118d16cd6c2022-12-22T03:35:31ZengAssociação Neurologia Cognitiva e do ComportamentoDementia & Neuropsychologia1980-5764629710310.1590/S1980-57642012DN06020006S1980-57642012000200097Neuropsychological performance differences between two groups of probable-AD patients from different areas of BrazilAnalucy Aury Vieira de OliveiraCorina SatlerCarlos TomazABSTRACT During normal aging there are some cognitive and behavioral changes similar to those observed in a transitional state or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early onset dementia, making it challenging for health care professionals to reach an accurate and reliable diagnosis. Objective: The current study examined the performance of two different groups of patients diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) on a neuropsychological test battery. Methods: Twenty-two AD patients from Brasília-DF (AD1) and thirty-four AD patients from Palmas-TO, northern Brazil (AD2), were selected and a short neuropsychological battery administered. To verify the reliability of these previous diagnoses of AD, both groups of patients were compared with a group of healthy controls. Results: AD patients showed cognitive deficit but scores were lower for the AD2 group compared with the AD1 group considering the cut-off point. Notably, patients from the AD1 group were older (p=0.004) and had less formal education (p<0.001) than those from the AD2 group. Comparing different cognitive domains between AD groups, post hoc analysis showed that the AD1 group was characterized by deficits in episodic memory retrieval (p<0.001), semantic memory (p<0.001) and verbal fluency (p<0.001). In contrast, the AD2 group showed lower scores in attention (p=0.007), executive functioning (p<0.001) and working memory (p<0.001). Conclusion: This pattern suggests that the Palma group of patients had a neuropsychological profile that was inconsistent with AD. Although the results of this study have important clinical implications, the effects of age, education, and gender on cognitive performance should be explored further.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642012000200097&lng=en&tlng=endementiacognitive impairmentAlzheimer's diseaseneuropsychological assessmentdiagnosis.
spellingShingle Analucy Aury Vieira de Oliveira
Corina Satler
Carlos Tomaz
Neuropsychological performance differences between two groups of probable-AD patients from different areas of Brazil
Dementia & Neuropsychologia
dementia
cognitive impairment
Alzheimer's disease
neuropsychological assessment
diagnosis.
title Neuropsychological performance differences between two groups of probable-AD patients from different areas of Brazil
title_full Neuropsychological performance differences between two groups of probable-AD patients from different areas of Brazil
title_fullStr Neuropsychological performance differences between two groups of probable-AD patients from different areas of Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Neuropsychological performance differences between two groups of probable-AD patients from different areas of Brazil
title_short Neuropsychological performance differences between two groups of probable-AD patients from different areas of Brazil
title_sort neuropsychological performance differences between two groups of probable ad patients from different areas of brazil
topic dementia
cognitive impairment
Alzheimer's disease
neuropsychological assessment
diagnosis.
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642012000200097&lng=en&tlng=en
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AT corinasatler neuropsychologicalperformancedifferencesbetweentwogroupsofprobableadpatientsfromdifferentareasofbrazil
AT carlostomaz neuropsychologicalperformancedifferencesbetweentwogroupsofprobableadpatientsfromdifferentareasofbrazil