• Rónán O'Caoimh, Yang Gao, Ciara McGlade, Liam Healy, Paul Gallagher, Suzanne Timmons, and D William Molloy.
• Department of Gerontology and Rehabilitation, St Finbarrs Hospital, Douglas Road, Cork City, Ireland.
• Age Ageing. 2012 Sep 1;41(5):624-9.

Introductiondifferentiating mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from normal cognition (NC) is difficult. The AB Cognitive Screen (ABCS) 135, sensitive in differentiating MCI from dementia, was modified to improve sensitivity and specificity, producing the quick mild cognitive impairment (Qmci) screen.Objectivethis study compared the sensitivity and specificity of the Qmci with the Standardised MMSE and ABCS 135, to differentiate NC, MCI and dementia.Methodsweightings and subtests of the ABCS 135 were changed and a new section 'logical memory' added, creating the Qmci. From four memory clinics in Ontario, Canada, 335 subjects (154 with MCI, 181 with dementia) were recruited and underwent comprehensive assessment. Caregivers, attending with the subjects, without cognitive symptoms, were recruited as controls (n = 630).Resultsthe Qmci was more sensitive than the SMMSE and ABCS 135, in differentiating MCI from NC, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.86 compared with 0.67 and 0.83, respectively, and in differentiating MCI from mild dementia, AUC of 0.92 versus 0.91 and 0.91. The ability of the Qmci to identify MCI was better for those over 75 years.Conclusionthe Qmci is more sensitive than the SMMSE in differentiating MCI and NC, making it a useful test, for MCI in clinical practice, especially for older adults.

19 keywords...

hide…