Identifying patients at high and low risk of cognitive decline using Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test among middle-aged memory clinic outpatients

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether application of cutoff levels in an episodic memory test (Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, RAVLT) is a useful method for identifying patients at high and low risk of cognitive decline and subsequent dementia. METHODS: 224 patients with memory complaints (mean age = 60.7 years, mean MMSE = 28.2) followed-up at a memory clinic over approximately 3 years were assigned retrospectively to one of three memory groups from their baseline results in RAVLT [severe (SIM), moderate (MIM) or no impairment (NIM)]. These groups were investigated regarding cognitive decline. RESULTS: Patients assigned to SIM showed significant cognitive decline and progressed to dementia at a high rate, while a normal performance in RAVLT at baseline (NIM) predicted normal cognition after 3 years. Patients with MIM constituted a heterogeneous group; some patients deteriorated cognitively, while the majority remained stable or improved. CONCLUSIONS: The application of cutoff levels in RAVLT at baseline showed that patients with severely impaired RAVLT performance were at a high risk of cognitive decline and progression to dementia, while patients with normal RAVLT results did not show cognitive decline during 3 years. Furthermore, the initial degree of memory impairment was decisive in the cognitive prognosis 3 years later.

Lindau, Maria (author)
Almkvist, OveStockholms universitet,Karolinska Institutet,Psykologiska institutionen(Swepub:su)almkv (author)
Engfeldt, PeterÖrebro universitet,Institutionen för klinisk medicin(Swepub:oru)pet (author)
Johansson, Sven-ErikKarolinska Institutet (author)
Eriksdotter Jonhagen, MariaKarolinska Institutet (author)
Karolinska InstitutetPsykologiska institutionen (creator_code:org_t)

In:Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders: S. Karger AG21:4, s. 251-2591420-80081421-9824

By the author/editor: Andersson, Chris ...; Lindau, Maria; Almkvist, Ove; Engfeldt, Peter; Johansson, Sven- ...; Eriksdotter Jonh ...

About the subject

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Clinical Medicin ...; and Geriatrics

By the university: Örebro University; Karolinska Institutet; Stockholm University

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