Federica Limongi1, Marianna Noale2, Angelo Bianchetti3,4,5, Nicola Ferrara4,5,6, Alessandro Padovani7, Elio Scarpini8,9, Marco Trabucchi4,5,10, Stefania Maggi1. 1. CNR, Neuroscience Institute, Aging Branch, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padua, Italy. 2. CNR, Neuroscience Institute, Aging Branch, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128, Padua, Italy. marianna.noale@in.cnr.it. 3. Dipartimento di Medicina e Riabilitazione, Istituto Clinico S.Anna-Gruppo San Donato, Brescia, Italy. 4. Società Italiana di Geriatria e Gerontologia (SIGG), Florence, Italy. 5. Associazione Italiana di Psicogeriatria (AIP), Brescia, Italy. 6. Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Naples, Italy. 7. Neurology Unit, Dipartimento Scienze Cliniche e Sperimentali, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy. 8. Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. 9. Università di Milano, Centro Dino Ferrari, Milan, Italy. 10. University of "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
Abstract
AIMS: The purpose of this study was to examine the tools used in Italy to diagnose mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: In collaboration with the Luigi Amaducci Research Consortium, the Italian Network of Alzheimer Evaluation Units prepared a questionnaire to describe how MCI is diagnosed in the Italian Centres for cognitive disorders and dementia (CCDD). RESULTS: Most of the ninety-two CCDDs participating in the survey were located in hospitals (54.7%); large percentages were coordinated by neurologists (50.8%) and geriatricians (44.6%). Almost all (98.5%) used the Mini Mental State Examination to diagnose MCI; the Clock Drawing Test was also frequently used (83.9%). Other neuropsychological, imaging and biomarker tests were utilized less frequently and a wide diversity in the instruments used was noted. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, diagnoses of MCI are based on a multitude of instruments, with major differences in the clinical assessment of geriatricians and neurologists. Standardized testing protocols, validated instruments and cut-off points need to be identified and adopted by the CCDDs for assessing MCI.
AIMS: The purpose of this study was to examine the tools used in Italy to diagnose mild cognitive impairment (MCI). METHODS: In collaboration with the Luigi Amaducci Research Consortium, the Italian Network of Alzheimer Evaluation Units prepared a questionnaire to describe how MCI is diagnosed in the Italian Centres for cognitive disorders and dementia (CCDD). RESULTS: Most of the ninety-two CCDDs participating in the survey were located in hospitals (54.7%); large percentages were coordinated by neurologists (50.8%) and geriatricians (44.6%). Almost all (98.5%) used the Mini Mental State Examination to diagnose MCI; the Clock Drawing Test was also frequently used (83.9%). Other neuropsychological, imaging and biomarker tests were utilized less frequently and a wide diversity in the instruments used was noted. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, diagnoses of MCI are based on a multitude of instruments, with major differences in the clinical assessment of geriatricians and neurologists. Standardized testing protocols, validated instruments and cut-off points need to be identified and adopted by the CCDDs for assessing MCI.
Entities:
Keywords:
Diagnosis tools; Italian centres for cognitive disorders and dementia; Mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Pasquale Mone; Antonella Pansini; Salvatore Frullone; Antonio de Donato; Veronica Buonincontri; Paolo De Blasiis; Anna Marro; Maria Morgante; Antonio De Luca; Gaetano Santulli Journal: Eur J Intern Med Date: 2022-03-14 Impact factor: 7.749