COMPARISON OF PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER TYPE DEMENTIA AND MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN TERMS OF ATTENTION, MEMORY AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS

Introduction: The main purpose of this research was to compare patients having ATD or MCI with each other and with healthy elderly participants (control group) in relation to several neuropsychological tests sensitive to memory, attention, and executive functions. The secondary aim was to conduct a pilot study to evaluate whether it is possible to construct a battery of neuropsychological tests to successfully distinguish ATD, MCI, and control groups. Materials and Method: The data was collected from a total of 83 elderly adults (54 patients: 26 with ATD and 28 with MCI and 29 healthy elderly). Five neuropsychological tests [Stroop Test TBAG version (Stroop-TBAG), Trail Making Test (TMT), Cancellation Test (CT) and Raven Standard Progressive Matrices (RSPM)] were administered to the participants to evaluate their attention and executive functions, and Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) was used in order to measure memory. Results: In order to assess the effect of group variable on neuropsychological test scores, a one-way MANCOVA and one-way ANCOVA statistically controlling for educational level were used. MANCOVA and ANCOVA results revealed that while neuropsychological tests sensitive to memory, attention, and executive functions successfully differentiated ATD group from MCI and control groups, these tests did not efficiently differentiate between MCI group and control group. Conclusion: WMS-R, Stroop-TBAG, TMT, CT and RSPM tests were successful in distinguishing ATD group from MCI and control groups. A neuropsychological test battery for patients with ATD and MCI was proposed.