Objective: This study presents the development of a brief (one minute), easy-to-take, computer-based test to distinguish normal individuals from patients with memory difficulties of the type most specific to Alzheimer’s disease.
Design: This test is based short-term memory, perception of complex objects, recognition, and recognition reaction-time. The test requires recall the pictures for recognition later in the series.
Results: Indications from administration of the test to patients presenting for assessment in a Memory Disorders Clinic and controls are that the test clearly discriminates normals from patients with mild cognitive impairment and both of these from mild dementia patients. Most normals make fewer than 10% errors and have a recognition reaction time less than 1 second. Patients with mild cognitive impairment generally make 10-25% errors and have recognition reaction times of 1 to 1.3 seconds. Mild dementia patients make 25-40% errors and have recognition reaction times of 1.2 to 1.6 seconds, and patients with moderate dementia score about chance (around 50% errors) with recognition reaction times over 1.6 seconds.
Conclusion: The BLT-A test can be administered on-line and is flexible so that scoring can be monitored and the test continually improved to provide more precise and reliable characterization of patients’ levels of impairment.
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