-The prevalence Alzheimer's disease with age compromises memory, language, executive functions, constructive praxis and abstraction, requiring early evaluation with standardized tests. Objective: To validate the Screening Test for Alzheimer's Disease with Proverbs (STADP), elaborated using pieces from the proverb memory game. Method: The test contains three stages (A: short-term memory, B: executive functions and language and C: episodic memory). The sample consisted of 91 elderly individuals with minimum age of 60 years and one year of schooling, CDR of one or zero, cared for at specialized services of UFPE, HGA and private institutions. Sociodemographic data, habits and health perception were assessed. Among the tests used were MMSE (convergent validity) and GDS (discriminating). Results: A good correlation with standardized test was found, acceptable internal consistency (0.71), cutoff point for schooling of 6.49 (low) (80% and 77.8%) and 8.66 (high) (84.6% and 86.1%); Kappa coefficient of 1 (p=0.000) inter-rater consistency. Conclusion: STADP is a valid test for screening Alzheimer's disease.KEy woRDS: Alzheimer's disease, proverbs, language, test validity. Validade e confiabilidade do teste de rastreio de doença de alzheimer com provérbios (trdaP) para idososresumo -A prevalência da doença de Alzheimer com o envelhecimento, que compromete memória, linguagem, funções executivas, praxia construtiva e abstração, necessita avaliação precoce com testes padronizados. Objetivo: Validação do Teste de Rastreio de Doença de Alzheimer com Provérbios (TRDAP), elaborado com pedras do jogo de memória de provérbios. Método: o teste contém três etapas (A: memória curto-prazo, B: funções executivas e linguagem e C: memória episódica). A amostra tinha 91 idosos com mínimos de 60 anos e de um ano de escolaridade, CDR (um ou zero), de serviços especializados da UFPE, HGA e particular. Avaliaram-se dados sociodemográficos, hábitos e percepção de saúde. Dentre os testes utilizados -MEEM (validade convergente), EDG (discriminante). Resultados: Apontaram para boa correlação com testes padronizados, consistência interna aceitável (0,71); ponto de corte por escolaridade foi 6,49 (80% e 77,8%) -baixa, e alta 8,66 (84,6% e 86,1%); coeficiente Kappa igual a 1 (p=0,000) inter-avaliadores. Conclusão: o TRDAP mostra-se válido para rastrear doença de Alzheimer.PAlAVRAS-CHAVE: doença de Alzheimer, provérbios, memória, linguagem, validade de testes.

In the differential diagnosis between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and normal aging, tests evaluating memory and executive functions are frequently used. The addition of abstraction tests may enhance the effectiveness of screening tests for AD.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare initial data of a new instrument – The Screening Test for Alzheimer’s Disease with Proverbs (STADP) – against other screening tests used in AD diagnosis.MethodsSixty elderly individuals (46 controls and 14 AD subjects with CDR=1), aged =60 years, with at least one year of schooling, were evaluated using the STADP at outpatient clinic. The STADP assesses short-term memory, episodic memory, executive functions and language, in addition to proverb recognition. The performance of the participants on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), semantic Verbal Fluency (VF) and Clock Drawing Test (CDT) were evaluated and the habit of reading, writing and sociodemographic data were also taken into account.ResultsThere were significant correlations between STADP and the performance on the MMSE (r=0.64), CDT (r=0.50) and VF (r=0.56). Age influenced all sub-items of the STADP, specifically episodic memory (r= –0.54), whereas schooling mainly influenced executive functions and language (r=0.46). The total score, stages A and C and the “proverb recognition” of STADP (p<0.001), as well as the MMSE (p<0.001), CDT (p=0.016), VF (p<0.001) were significantly different in AD versus control groups.ConclusionsThe findings point to the potential use of the STADP in AD, warranting the conducting of further studies.