Verbal fluency as a screening tool for mild cognitive impairment

Abstract

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the ability of semantic (animal naming) and phonemic (FAS) fluency in their ability to discriminate between normal aging, amnestic-Mild Cognitive Impairment (a-MCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Design: We used binary logistic regressions, multinomial regressions, and discriminant analysis to evaluate the predictive value of semantic and phonemic fluency in regards to specific diagnostic classifications. Setting: Outpatient geriatric neuropsychology clinic. Participants: 232 participants (normal aging = 99, a-MCI = 90, AD = 43; mean age = 65.75 years). Measurements: Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), Controlled Oral Word Association Test Results: Results indicate that semantic and phonemic fluency were significant predictors of diagnostic classification, and semantic fluency explained a greater amount of the discriminant ability of the model. Conclusions: These results suggest that verbal fluency, particularly semantic fluency, may be an accurate and efficient tool in screening for early dementia in time-limited medical settings.

Gait Kinematic and Kinetic Characteristics of Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Subjective Cognitive Decline: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Afterward, the participants were assessed using the following neuropsychological tests, covering three cognitive domains: (1) episodic memory assessed by Auditory–Verbal Learning Test–Huashan version (AVLT-H) ( Zhao et al, 2012 ), using the delayed recall and delayed recognition scores; (2) speed/executive function assessed by trail-making test (TMT) parts A and B ( Perrochon and Kemoun, 2014 ), using the time spent for completing TMT A and TMT B; and (3) language function assessed by verbal fluency ( McDonnell et al, 2020 ) and Boston Naming Test ( Stålhammar et al, 2016 ), using the scores of both tests. Meanwhile, depression level was assessed using the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30) ( Chau et al, 2006 ).…”

Functional Connectivity and Compensation of Phonemic Fluency in Aging

“…Further, this association was not mediated by cognitive reserve in the younger adults but was mediated by cognitive reserve in the older adults, thus, presumably representing compensation in the elderly. Our findings are relevant as verbal fluency is significantly impaired in several dementia types including Alzheimer's disease (Henry et al, 2004 ), shows early changes in mild cognitive impairment (Murphy et al, 2006 ), is sensitive to subjective cognitive decline (Nikolai et al, 2018 ), and is even suggested as a potential screening tool (McDonnell et al, 2020 ; Frankenberg et al, 2021 ). Further, subdomains of verbal fluency such as phonemic and semantic fluency evolve differentially over time, even in healthy aging (Stolwyk et al, 2015 ; Gonzalez-Burgos et al, 2019 ; Rodríguez-Aranda et al, 2020 ).…”

Feasibility of the cognitive assessment of nursing home residents with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment using the intelligent voice-guided digital assistant THALIE: A pilot study

“…Moreover, studies found a significant correlation between MMSE scores and Trail-Making-Test scores (particularly with TMT-B speed score: r=-0.54) in elderly subjects (Olivera-Souza et al, 2000;Saint Martin, Sforza, Barthelemy, Thomas-Anterion, & Roche, 2012). In MCI patients, studies found significant correlations between MMSE scores and TMT (with TMT-B, r=-.40), and verbal fluency (animal naming) scores (r=.38) (Jefferson et al, 2006;McDonnell et al, 2019). In a sample of the French Three-City Study (n=1.516), the total MMSE scores and episodic memory evaluated by the Free and Cued Reminding Test (FCSRT) scores were also significantly correlated (with Total score: r=.32; Free score: r=.40 and Cued score: r=.27) (Carcaillon, Amieva, Auriacombe, Helmer, & Dartigues, 2009).…”