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Altered Handwriting Suggests Cognitive Impairment and May Be Relevant to Posthumous Evaluation
Author(s) -
Balestrino Maurizio,
Fontana Paola,
Terzuoli Serena,
Volpe Silvia,
Inglese Maria Laura,
Cocito Leonardo
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02131.x
Subject(s) - handwriting , spelling , psychology , cognition , neuropsychology , dementia , cognitive impairment , scale (ratio) , neuropsychological assessment , clinical psychology , settlor , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , medicine , artificial intelligence , computer science , linguistics , philosophy , physics , disease , pathology , quantum mechanics , political science , law
Abstract: Judging the validity of a disputed will is complex; however, one of the main issues is what the mental status of the testator was at the time of the will. If the will is handwritten, a handwriting analysis can provide information on the mental status of the testator. We tested how two writing parameters (the “writing score,” a novel evaluation scale that we previously described, and the percentage of spelling mistakes) are capable to identify cognitively impaired persons. These parameters are especially helpful because they can be used to evaluate the mental status of a deceased person. We found a significant correlation between either parameter and established scales of neuropsychological evaluation (Mini Mental State Examination and Milan Overall Dementia Assessment scale). Specifically, a poor score on either parameter reliably identified a compromised cognitive status. These may represent helpful additions to existing techniques in posthumously identifying persons with severe cognitive impairment.