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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2009 Oct-Nov;24(5):396–403. doi: 10.1177/1533317509342982

Computerized Cognitive Assessment of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Urban African Americans

Glen M Doniger 1, Mi-Yeoung Jo 2, Ely S Simon 3, Howard A Crystal 4
PMCID: PMC10846060  PMID: 19700670

Abstract

Few objective cognitive assessment tools have been validated for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in African Americans despite higher prevalence of disease. This preliminary study evaluated discriminant validity of a computerized cognitive assessment battery for MCI in an urban African American cohort. Twenty-seven participants with MCI and 22 cognitively healthy individuals completed a multidomain battery (Mindstreams, NeuroTrax Corp, New Jersey). Mild cognitive impairment participants performed more poorly than cognitively healthy participants in all domains, with significant differences in memory (P = .003; d = 0.96), executive function (P = .046; d = 0.64), and overall battery performance (P = .041; d = 0.63). Adjustment for intelligence quotient (IQ) yielded significant differences in memory (P < .001; d = 1.34), executive function (P = .007; d = 0.86), attention (P = .014; d = .80), and overall performance (P = .001; d = 1.09). Such a validated battery may help to address an important clinical need in this population.

Keywords: cognitive assessment, mild cognitive impairment, MCI, African American, computerized battery

Full Text

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Contributor Information

Glen M. Doniger, Department of Clinical Science, NeuroTrax Corporation, Newark, New Jersey, glen.doniger@neurotrax.com .

Mi-Yeoung Jo, Department of Neurology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.

Ely S. Simon, Department of Clinical Science, NeuroTrax Corporation, Newark, New Jersey, Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.

Howard A. Crystal, Department of Neurology, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.

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