Impaired abstract thinking may discriminate between normal aging and vascular mild cognitive impairment

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria Vol. 68; no. 2; pp. 179 - 184
• Main Authors: Sudo, Felipe Kenji, Alves, Gilberto Sousa, Alves, Carlos Eduardo de Oliveira, Lanna, Maria Elisa, Ericeira-Valente, Letice, Moreira, Denise Madeira, Engelhardt, Eliasz, Laks, Jerson
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Neurologia - ABNEURO 01.04.2010
• Subjects: Aged; Aging - physiology; Case-Control Studies; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - physiopathology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dementia, Vascular - diagnosis; Dementia, Vascular - physiopathology; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Male; Neuropsychological Tests; NEUROSCIENCES; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; PSYCHIATRY; Thinking - physiology; CAMCOG; idosos; comprometimento cognitivo leve; demência vascular; cerebrovascular disease; doença cerebrovascular; pensamento abstrato; elderly; vascular dementia; mild cognitive impairment; abstract thinking
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-282X2010000200005

Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is associated with cognitive deficits. This cross-sectional study examines differences among healthy elderly controls and patients with vascular mild cognitive impairment (VaMCI) and vascular dementia (VaD) in performances on CAMCOG subscales. Elderly individuals (n=61) were divided into 3 groups, according to cognitive and neuroimaging status: 16 controls, 20 VaMCI and 25 VaD. VaMCI and VaD individuals scored over 4 points on the Hachinski Ischemic Scale. Significant differences in total CAMCOG scores were observed across the three groups (p<0.001). VaD subjects performed worse than those with VaMCI in most CAMCOG subscales (p<0.001). All subscales showed differences between controls and VaD (p<0.001). Performance on abstract thinking showed difference between VaMCI and controls (p<0.001). CAMCOG discriminated controls from VaMCI and VaD. Assessment of abstract thinking may be useful as a screening item for diagnosis of VaMCI.