Spanish Version of Test MIS (*) with Delayed Memory Recall Normative Values and Results in a Population with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairment becomes more common with ageing and may benefit from intervention. In a Spanish speaking population, detection of cognitive impairment by a general practitioner in Primary Care can be a problem, as many of the standard tests target English speaking populations. The Memory Impairment Screen (MIS-A) is a validated test using English words to detect Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and other dementias. We have modified this test to suit a Spanish speaking population and added a new component, delayed recall. We have called our new test the Memory Impairment Screen with Delayed Recall (MIS-D). Objectives: 1) To test a Spanish version of MIS-A and MIS-D. 2) To assess the discriminative validity of MIS-D as a screening tool for the amnestic variant of Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) in a group of Spanish speaking people aged 65 years old and over. Methods: A case-control study of a cohort of 739 native Spanish speaking residents of Buenos Aires aged 65 years old and over, of whom 436 were healthy controls and 303 had a diagnosis of aMCI. Measurements: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NVP) were estimated for MIS-D and MIS-A. Results: Normative values for MIS-A and MIS-D were obtained from the control population. Both age and education significantly affected these values (p < 0.0001). Control participants showed significant differences for both modalities, MIS-A and MIS-D. The cut-off for MIS-A should be 7.5 and for MIS-D, 5.5. Comparison between control population and aMCI population using ROC curve gave a result of 5.5 in MIS-D, with 97% specificity and 76% sensitivity. Conclusion: MIS-D was positively predictive of aMCI, with 97% specificity and 76% sensitivity in a sample of Spanish speaking patients aged 65 years old and over in Buenos Aires.