CANTAB object recognition and language tests to detect aging cognitive decline: an exploratory comparative study

• Published in: Clinical interventions in aging Vol. 10; pp. 37 - 48
• Main Authors: Picanco Diniz, Cristovam, Cabral Soares, Fernanda, Galdino de Oliveira, Thais Cristina, Dias e Dias Macedo, Liliane, Wanderley Picanco Diniz, Domingos Luiz, Valim Oliver Bento-Torres, Natali, Bento-Torres, Joao, Tomás, Alessandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aging; Aging - physiology; Aging - psychology; Alzheimer's disease; Analysis; Automation; Brazil; Cluster Analysis; Cognition; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - prevention & control; Cognitive ability; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dementia; discriminant analysis; Early Diagnosis; Educational Status; Female; Health aspects; Health care; Humans; Illiteracy; Intelligence Tests; Language; Language and languages; Language Tests; Male; Memory; Neuropsychological Tests; Older people; Original Research; Quantitative genetics; ROC analysis; Semantics; Spatial Learning - physiology; Spatial Navigation - physiology; Task Performance and Analysis; Tests, problems and exercises; Young adults; Brazil; discriminant analysis; aging; neuropsychological tests; cluster analysis
• ISSN: 1178-1998; 1176-9092; 1178-1998
• DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S68186

The recognition of the limits between normal and pathological aging is essential to start preventive actions. The aim of this paper is to compare the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and language tests to distinguish subtle differences in cognitive performances in two different age groups, namely young adults and elderly cognitively normal subjects. We selected 29 young adults (29.9±1.06 years) and 31 older adults (74.1±1.15 years) matched by educational level (years of schooling). All subjects underwent a general assessment and a battery of neuropsychological tests, including the Mini Mental State Examination, visuospatial learning, and memory tasks from CANTAB and language tests. Cluster and discriminant analysis were applied to all neuropsychological test results to distinguish possible subgroups inside each age group. Significant differences in the performance of aged and young adults were detected in both language and visuospatial memory tests. Intragroup cluster and discriminant analysis revealed that CANTAB, as compared to language tests, was able to detect subtle but significant differences between the subjects. Based on these findings, we concluded that, as compared to language tests, large-scale application of automated visuospatial tests to assess learning and memory might increase our ability to discern the limits between normal and pathological aging.