Abstract
Background
Mixed dementia (MD), i.e., the coexistence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebrovascular
disease (CVD), is a common dementia subtype. Few studies have attempted to establish
the cognitive profiles of mild–moderate MD and compare it to the profiles of AD using
a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. We aimed to establish the neuropsychological
profile of mild–moderate MD in relation to mild–moderate AD.
Methods
Patients with consensus diagnoses of MD and AD of mild–moderate severity (Clinical
Dementia Rating score of 1–2) were recruited from a memory clinic. Cognitive performance
was measured by a formal neuropsychological battery covering domains of attention,
language, verbal and visual memory, visuoconstruction, visuomotor speed and executive
function. Cognitive domain scores are z-scores calculated using the mean and SDs of the AD group. ANCOVAs with age and education as covariates were employed to examine
differences in mean score difference of cognitive domains and subtests between patients
with MD and AD.
Results
151 patients were recruited with the majority of AD (n = 96, 63.6%) and a minority of MD (n = 55, 36.4%). There were no significant differences in the demographic characteristics
of patients with MD and AD. However, patients with MD were significantly more impaired
than AD patients in global cognitive composite, attention and visuoconstruction (global
cognitive composite: −0.32 ± 0.98 vs 0 ± 1, p = 0.011; attention: −0.32 ± 0.90 vs 0 ± 1, p = 0.013; visuoconstruction: −0.27 ± 0.99 vs 0 ± 1, p = 0.024, respectively).
Conclusion
The neuropsychological profile of patients with MD of mild–moderate severity is characterized
by a poorer global performance, as well as attention and visuoconstruction than those
with AD of mild–moderate severity.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 26, 2013
Accepted:
May 10,
2013
Received in revised form:
April 18,
2013
Received:
January 31,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
