Computerized cognitive testing battery identifies mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia even in the presence of depressive symptoms

Glen M. Doniger*, Tzvi Dwolatzky, David M. Zucker, Howard Chertkow, Howard Crystal, Avraham Schweiger, Ely S. Simon

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cognitive and depressive symptoms co-occur, complicating detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early dementia. In this study, discriminant validity of a novel computerized cognitive battery for MCI detection was evaluated after covariation for depressive symptom severity. In addition to the computerized battery, participants at two sites received the 30-item self-administered Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS; n = 72); those at two other centers received the observer-administered Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD; n = 88). In both cohorts, a Global Cognitive Score and memory, executive function, visual spatial, and verbal index scores discriminated among cognitively healthy, MCI, and mild dementia groups after covariation for GDS or CSDD, respectively (p < 0.05). Thus, the computerized battery for detection of mild impairment is robust to comorbid depressive symptoms, supporting its clinical utility in identifying neurodegenerative disease even in elderly with depression.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)28-36
Number of pages9
JournalAmerican Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006

Keywords

  • Cognitive assessment
  • Computerized battery
  • Dementia
  • Depression
  • Mild cognitive impairment

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