Three step screening predicts dementia

A three stage screening procedure predicts development of Alzheimer's disease and dementia three years later. In a population based study of 1435 elderly people, Palmer and colleagues (p 245) tested the procedure, which consists of a single question about memory problems, assessment of global cognitive function, and neuropsychological tests. Over 85% of participants who had impairment at all three stages developed dementia after three years. However, sensitivity was low and only 18% of those who developed dementia were identified: half of those who went on to develop dementia had reported no problems with their memory and were therefore not included in the next stages.

(Credit: WILL AND DENI MCINTYRE/SPL)

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Detection of Alzheimer's disease and dementia in the preclinical phase: population based cohort study

Katie Palmer, Lars Bäckman, Bengt Winblad, and Laura Fratiglioni
BMJ 2003 326: 245. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]