APPLICATION OF THE TOTAL SCORE FOR THE CERAD BATTERY IN BULGARIAN DEMENTED AND CONTROL SUBJECTS

Abstract

Background: The lack of a total numeric score of the CERAD neuropsychological battery may to some extent limit the possibilities for presenting the cognitive status and the degree of dementia. The objective of the present study is to apply the CERAD battery in a Bulgarian population of demented and control subjects, to compute the total score for each participant, and to compare the performance of the two groups. Methods: a total of 164 subjects, 134 patients with dementia and 30 controls were assessed using the Bulgarian version of the CERAD battery. The total score was calculated according to the method described by Chandler et al. Mean values were compared using independent samples t-test. ROC curves were built, and the area under the curve was calculated. Results: The total score for the whole sample has a mean value of 63.45±20.56. After correction for age and education x=79.51±20.24. The total score is significantly lower in the demented subjects compared to the control group, for both raw and corrected score. The area under the ROC curve shows values of 0.988 and 0.986 before and after correction, respectively. Conclusion: The statistically significant difference between the results of demented and control subjects, with and without correction for age and education, support the good applicability and high informative value of the instrument. The results of ROC analysis demonstrate the high value of the battery for diagnosing dementia.

Keywords

• to compute the total score for each participant
• and to compare the performance of the two groups. Methods: a total of 164 subjects
• 134 patients with dementia and 30 controls were assessed using the Bulgarian version of the CERAD battery. The total score was calculated according to the method described by Chandler et al. Mean values were compared using independent samples t-test. ROC curves were built
• and the area under the curve was calculated. Results: The total score for the whole sample has a mean value of 63.45±20.56. After correction for age and education x=79.51±20.24. The total score is significantly lower in the demented subjects compared to the control group
• for both raw and corrected score. The area under the ROC curve shows values of 0.988 and 0.986 before and after correction
• respectively. Conclusion: The statistically significant difference between the results of demented and control subjects
• with and without correction for age and education
• CERAD
• dementia
• neuropsychological assessment
• total score