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Introduction Antipsychotic medications are widely prescribed to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) of dementia. NPS produce a negative impact on the caregiver and represent a cause of institutionalization. The benefit of antipsychotics is controversial and should be the last treatment option. Objective To detect potential predictors of antipsychotic drug (risperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, clozapine, haloperidol) use in patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia. Methods Data was collected as part of the prospective study of home‐dwelling people with cognitive impairment and their caregivers. The associations between antipsychotic medication use and cognitive‐clinical measures were analyzed using a multivariate binomial generalized linear model. Results 228 patients were evaluated at baseline. MCI and dementia were diagnosed in 125 and 30 subjects respectively. After a median (25th to 75th percentile range) of 4.5 (4.1‐4.9) years 21 patients died. Antipsychotics were prescribed in 46 cases (16 with dementia and 30 with MCI). In the multivariate model, baseline Boston naming test (OR: 0.93, 95% confidence interval: 0.89‐0.98, p=0.004) and instrumental activities of the daily living score (OR: 0.65, 95% confidence interval: 0.47‐0.90, p=0.009) were independently related to antipsychotic use (table). Conclusion Within 4 years of follow‐up, thirty percent of the patients with cognitive impairment received antipsychotic drugs. Baseline instrumental activity of the daily living and Boston naming test were identified as independent predictors.

The increase in consultations for changes and/or cognitive complaints in the elderly, together with the current interest in epidemiological research in this context creates the need for screening tools for cognitive assessment to enable the detection of early deficits. Evidence shows its predictive value in the development of dementia disease. This study aims at displaying the results of a Cognitive Skills Questionnaire (CSQ) in a patient population with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), both compared with a control group (CG) with no cognitive disorder and verifying its sensitivity and specificity in order to identify risk patients with cognitive disorder. Participants and Methods: A total of 208 participants were evaluated, out of which 60 had MCI, 46 had AD and a remaining group of 102 subjects who had no cognitive disorder. All participants were administrated the CSQ and a battery of neuropsychological proofs. We analysed the statistical data using ANOVA, Student’s t-test, Tuckey test, ROC curve and principal components analysis. A multiple regression analysis was carried out so as to single out those questions which better differentiated the studied groups. Results: The CSQ showed significant differences between the CG and both groups of patients (AD p> 0.01 and MCI p> 0.05). It was established a cut-off point of 17.5 in the CSQ total score with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 91.3%. Conclusion: The CSQ could eventually allow us to identify patients with cognitive disorders and those others with a cognitive complaint greater than expected. Thus, this questionnaire could be a useful testing and counselling tool in health primary attention.

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