Memory Impairment Screen (MIS) Normative Data and Discriminative Validity: Argentine Version

GALENO J. ROJAS, LEONARDO C. BARTOLONI, CAROL DILLON, CECILIA M. SERRANO, LEANDRO LOÑ, CRISTINA G. RANALLI, RICARDO ALLEGRI

Chicago

Congreso; Meeting American Academy of Neurology 2008; 2008

American Academy of Neurology

OBJECTIVE: To present normative data and discriminative validity for the Memory Impairment Screen (MIS), and to assess its usefulness as screening instrument in Argentina. BACKGROUND: Screening tests for detecting dementias are usually long, sometimes difficult to apply, and require a certain amount of instruction prior to using them. The Memory Impairment Screen (MIS) is a fast (3-4 minutes), easy-to-apply screening test that evaluates short-term verbal memory. DESIGN/METHODS: 183 subjects were selected, including 88 patients with dementia, 54 with Alzheimer´s disease (AD) and 41 controls matched by age, and educational level. MIS is a test of memory of four words that uses specific techniques of codification and it scores in a rank from 0 to 8. Predictive values positive (VPP) and negative (VPN) and likelihood positive ratio (LR+) were calculated. Also the curves were obtained type Receiver Operator Characteristics (ROC). RESULTS: Curves ROC presented an excellent screening exactitude for dementia (0,91) and still better for the EA (0,95). In dementia in general, with a prevalence of 68 %, the point of more effective cut is located in 6, sensitivity = 82% and specificity = 90%. The VPP is 94%, VPN = 71%, and the LR+ = 8,5. In AD, prevalence = 56%, with a cut off score of 5, sensitivity = 85 and specificity = 95%. Present VPP 95%, VPN 83% and LR+ of 17,46. Specificity was higher than the recall item from the MMSE (85%), the Clock test (66,67%) and the category fluency (85,37%). CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE: These findings show that the MIS is a good test for screening for dementia, and its simplicity and quick application could make it suitable for use in our population.