ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate whether the Leganés cognitive test (LCT)
correlates with global cortical atrophy (GCA) and can be used as a surrogate
for structural brain damage.MethodsAtahualpa residents aged > 60 years identified during a door-to-door
survey underwent MRI for grading GCA. Using multivariate generalized linear
models, we evaluated whether continuous LCT scores correlated with GCA,
after adjusting for demographics, education, cardiovascular health (CVH)
status, depression and edentulism. In a nested case-control study, GCA
severity was assessed in subjects with LCT scores below the cutoff level for
dementia (< 22 points) and in matched controls without dementia.ResultsOut of 311 eligible subjects, 241 (78%) were enrolled. Mean age was
69.2±7.5 years, 59% were women, 83% had primary school education, 73%
had poor CVH status, 12% had symptoms of depression and 43% had edentulism.
Average LCT score was 26.7±3, and 23 (9.5%) subjects scored < 22
points. GCA was mild in 108, moderate in 95, and severe in 26 individuals.
On the multivariate model, mean LCT score was not associated with GCA
severity (β=0.06, SE=0.34, p=0.853). Severe GCA was noted in 6 / 23
case-patients and in 8 / 23 controls (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.14-2.81, p=0.752,
McNemar's test).ConclusionThe LCT does not correlate with severity of GCA after adjusting for
potential confounding variables, and should not be used as a reliable
estimate of structural brain damage.