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P4–175: A comparison of Pentagon copying and three clock scoring methods among illiterate or low educated elderly Korean
Author(s) -
Park Moon Ho,
Jo Sangmee Ahn,
Jo Inho,
Kim Eunkyung,
Han Changsu,
Park Min Kyu
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2006.05.1914
Subject(s) - pentagon , medicine , dementia , copying , context (archaeology) , functional illiteracy , gerontology , disease , political science , law , paleontology , biology
Background & Objective(s): Illiteracy or low education is prevalent among current elderly Korean. Although dementia screening tests are available, they have not gained widespread use in community or primary care settings in Korea. This study compared the dementia screening performance of Pentagon copying and three clock drawing test (CDT) scoring systems for elderly Korean. Methods: We reviewed the charts of consecutive subjects referred between 2004 and 2005 to the geriatric health clinic and research institute (GHCRI). Subjects included were 30 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) subjects and 60 normal subjects. All subjects had all undergone the CERAD-K as well as an MMSE-K, pentagon copy (scored by Bourke method and MMSE method) and CDT (scored by 3 methods: the Sunderland method, the Rouleau method, and the Watson method). Results: AD subjects with low education were found to copy significantly worse pentagons than those with high education or normal subjects. Copying scores and CDT scores significantly correlated with MMSE scores for the AD and normal groups. Using the CERAD-K as the good standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the pentagon copying scores and the Watson method of scoring CDT to predict an abnormal CERAD-K score were 65% and 72%, 60% and 71%, respectively. Conclusions: Deterioration in pentagon copying and CDT correlates with severity of global cognitive impairment in low educated elderly Koreans. This study suggests that in the socio-cultural context for Korean, pentagon copy as well as CDT are feasible for use in a clinical setting for dementia screening.