Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status Scores Associate with Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology at Death

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Robinson, Andrew C.^{a; b; *} | Davidson, Yvonne S.^a | Roncaroli, Federico^{a; b} | Minshull, James^a | Tinkler, Phillip^a | Cairns, Margaret^c | Horan, Michael A.^a | Payton, Antony^{d; 1} | Mann, David M.A.^{a; 1}

Affiliations: [a] Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, UK | [b] Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC), Manchester, UK | [c] Department of Healthcare for Older People, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Healthcare Trust, Exeter, UK | [d] Division of Informatics, Imaging & Data Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Dr. Andrew Robinson, Division of Neuroscience & Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Manchester, Salford Royal Hospital, Salford, M6 8HD, UK. Tel.: +44 0 161 206 2580; E-mail: andrew.c.robinson@manchester.ac.uk.

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work.

Abstract: Background:Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) provides an opportunity for early intervention. Cognitive testing has proven to be a reliable way to identify individuals who may be at risk of AD. The Telephone Assessment for Cognitive Screening (TICS) is proficient in screening for cognitive impairment. However, its ability to identify those at risk of developing AD pathology is unknown. Objective:We aim to investigate associations between TICS scores, collected over a period of 13 years, and the cognitive status of participants at death. We also examine relationships between TICS scores and neuropathological indices of AD (CERAD score, Thal phase, and Braak stage). Methods:Between 2004 and 2017, participants from The University of Manchester Longitudinal Study of Cognition in Normal Healthy Old Age underwent cognitive assessment using TICS. Scores from four time points were available for analysis. Cognitive impairment and AD pathology at death was evaluated in 101 participants. Results:TICS scores at time points 2, 3, and 4 were significantly lower in those cognitively impaired at death compared to those considered cognitively normal. There were significant negative correlations between TICS scores and CERAD score and Braak stage at time points 2 and 4. No correlations between Thal phase and TICS were found. Conclusion:Findings indicate that TICS could be used not only to screen for cognitive impairment, but also to identify individuals at risk of developing AD pathology, many years before any overt symptoms occur. Once identified, ‘at risk’ individuals could be targeted for early interventions which could attenuate the progression of the disease.

Keywords: Cognitive dysfunction, dementia, neuropathology, neuropsychological test

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-215102

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 84, no. 2, pp. 609-619, 2021