The Shape Trail Test: Application of a New Variant of the Trail Making Test

Abstract

ObjectiveThe Trail making test (TMT) is culture-loaded because of reliance on the Latin alphabet, limiting its application in Eastern populations. The Shape Trail Test (STT) has been developed as a new variant. This study is to examine the applicability of the STT in a senile Chinese population and to evaluate its potential advantages and disadvantages.MethodA total of 2470 participants were recruited, including 1151 cognitively normal control (NC), 898 amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and 421 mild Alzheimer disease (AD) patients. Besides the STT, the Mini mental state examination and a comprehensive neuropsychological battery involving memory, language, attention, executive function and visuospatial ability were administered to all the participants. In a subgroup of 100 NC and 50 AD patients, both the STT and the Color Trail Test (CTT) were performed.ResultsIn NC, the time consumed for Part A and B (STT-A and STT-B) significantly correlated with age and negatively correlated with education (p<0.01). STT-A and B significantly differed among the AD, aMCI and NC. The number that successfully connected within one minute in Part B (STT-B-1 min) correlated well with STT-B (r = 0.71, p<0.01) and distinguished well among NC, aMCI and AD. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the AUCs (area under the curve) for STT-A, STT-B, and STT-B-1min in identifying AD were 0.698, 0.694 and 0.709, respectively. The STT correlated with the CTT, but the time for completion was longer.ConclusionThe TMT is a sensitive test of visual search and sequencing. The STT is a meaningful attempt to develop a “culture-fair” variant of the TMT in addition to the CTT.

Associations between cognitive impairment and motor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease

“…Global cognition was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) (Katzman et al., ) and depression was rated using the Geriatric Depression Rating Scale (GDS) (Yesavage et al., ) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, ). Five specific cognitive domains were assessed by a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, with attention being tested by the Symbol Digit Modality Test (SDMT) (Sheridan et al., ) and Trail Making Test A (TMT‐A) (Zhao et al., ); executive function by the Stroop Color‐Word Test (CWT) (Steinberg, Bieliauskas, Smith, & Ivnik, ) and the Trail Making Test B (TMT‐B) (Zhao et al., ); language by the Boston Naming Test (BNT) (Lucas et al., ) and Verbal Fluency Test (VFT, animals, cities, alternatives) (Lucas et al., ); memory by the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) (Guo, Zhao, Chen, Ding, & Hong, ) and delayed recall of the Rey‐Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (CFT‐recall)(Caffarra, Vezzadini, Dieci, Zonato, & Venneri, ); and visuospatial function by the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) (Wang, Shi, Zhao, Hong, & Guo, ) and copy task of Rey‐Osterrieth Complex Figure test(CFT‐copy) (Caffarra et al., ).…”

Reduced Frontal Activations at High Working Memory Load in Mild Cognitive Impairment: Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

“…Speed/executive function was assessed using the Shape Trail Test (STT) [60], which involves numerical sequencing and set shifting, and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT) [61], which requires strategic planning when copying a complex figure. Language was assessed using a modified version of the Boston Naming Test (BNT) [62], which involves confrontation naming of common objects, and the Category Fluency Test (CFT), which involves the generation of words that belong to a semantic category within a time limit [63].…”

Clinical characteristics of cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson's disease and its related pattern in 18F‐FDG PET imaging

“…According to the MDS diagnostic criteria for PD-MCI (Litvan et al, 2011), different cognitive domains (executive function, attention, memory, visuospatial function, and language) were evaluated using a battery of neuropsychological tests. Executive functions were assessed with the Stroop Color-Word Test part C (Steinberg, Bieliauskas, Smith, & Ivnik, 2005) and Trail Making Test part B (TMT-B) (Zhao et al, 2013); attention was assessed with Trail Making Test part A (TMT-A) (Zhao et al, 2013) and the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) (Sheridan et al, 2006); memory function was assessed using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) (Guo, Zhao, Chen, Ding, & Hong, 2009) and delayed recall of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (CFT-delayed recall) (Caffarra, Vezzadini, Dieci, Zonato, & Venneri, 2002); visuospatial function was evaluated with the Clock Drawing Test and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Copy Test (CFT) (Caffarra et al, 2002); language ability was assessed with Boston Naming Test (BNT) and Verbal Fluency Test (VFT) (Lucas et al, 2005).…”