New Alzheimer's test to ensure early detection

Washington, Mar 12 : A new test, developed at the University of Tennessee, is over 95 percent accurate in detecting cognitive abnormalities linked with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of cognitive impairment.

Called computerized self-test (CST), it was designed to be both effective and relatively simple for medical professionals to administer and for patients to take.

Rex Cannon and Dr. John Dougherty, an associate professor in the UT Graduate School of Medicine, worked with a team of researchers to develop CST.

The impetus for the test came from data showing that 60 percent of Alzheimer''s cases are not diagnosed in the primary care setting, and that those delays lead to missed treatment opportunities.

"Early detection is at the forefront of the clinical effort in Alzheimer''s research, and application of instruments like CST in the primary care setting is of extreme importance," said Cannon.

The CST is a brief, interactive online test that works to asses various impairments in functional cognitive domains - in essence, it''s a "fitness test" of sorts for the basic functions of thinking and processing information that are affected by Alzheimer''s and milder forms of cognitive impairment.

The study showed that the CST was substantially more effective and more accurate in detecting the presence of Alzheimer''s and other forms of cognitive impairment in patients than other existing tests.

The CST had a 96 percent accuracy rate compared to 71 percent and 69 percent for the tests that are currently in use.

Cannon said that they developed the test partly because they wanted to ensure that the test is useful in the primary care setting, where physicians may not have detailed training in recognizing cognitive impairments, but where an early diagnosis may do the most good for patients.

"Computerized testing is a developing and exciting area for research," said Cannon.

He noted that the test can provide an objective way to determine what diseases may affect the patient and provide information to begin treatments that can blunt the effects of Alzheimer''s.

The study has been published in the latest issue of the Journal of Alzheimer''s Disease.