Abstract
Aim Memory testing is crucial for assessment of cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A recall of a sentence could serve for such purpose in clinical practice.
Participants and methods Patients with mild AD (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE 24 +- 3 points) and the normal elderly persons (MMSE 29 +- 1) of similar age, education and gender first learned one sentence three times ("30 grey mice ate raw cheese downstairs in the cellar last night" or "17 golden stars seldom shine in the dark sky until daylight"). Following two distractions, they recalled it twice.
Results Patients with AD in comparison with the control seniors reproduced significantly fewer words in the triple learning phase (an average number of words at the first learning of a mice sentence was 6 versus 8, in the second learning 7 vs 9, in the third one 8 vs 10), and after a distraction in the recall phase (firstly, 5 vs 10, secondly, 5 vs 10). The best indicator of memory functions was the first recall after the first distraction with the area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic of 0.91.
The sensitivity was 89 % and the specificity was 77 % at a cut-off of LESS-THAN OR EQUAL TO 9 correctly recalled words. The second night sentence gave similar results.
Conclusion A new and original Czech 3-4 minute test using a sentence may indicate a memory impairment in mild AD. There is the comparable alternative sentence for repeat testing.