Table 2.
Demographic and neuropsychological characteristics of the study population
| Characteristic | Group; mean ± SD* | p value; comparison | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|||||
| Control, n = 48 | aMCI, n = 35 | Alzheimer, n = 41 | Control v. aMCI | aMCI v. Alzheimer | Control v. Alzheimer | |
| Female sex, no. (%) | 33 (69) | 23 (65) | 26 (63) | — | — | — |
| Age, yr | 68.12 ± 8.78 | 68.32 ± 6.4 | 72.21 ± 12.94 | > 0.99 | 0.25 | 0.16 |
| Education, yr | 11.86 ± 5.6 | 9.05 ± 5.45 | 7.33 ± 5.3 | 0.047 | 0.33 | 0.001 |
| CDR score | 0 | 0.5 | 1 | — | — | — |
| MMSE | 28.61 ± 1.68 | 22.94 ± 2.6 | 19.53 ± 3.82 | < 0.001 | 0.048 | < 0.001 |
| Episodic memory tests | ||||||
| RAVLT encoding | 45.02 ± 9.19 | 28.94 ± 8.44 | 20.12 ± 6.76 | < 0.001 | 0.003 | < 0.001 |
| RAVLT A7 | 8.64 ± 2.74 | 3.21 ± 2.09 | 1 ± 1.37 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 |
| RAVLT CR-FP | 11.34 ± 3.35 | 5.42 ± 6.06 | −2.6 ± 5.1 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 |
| Working memory/attention tests | ||||||
| FDS | 5.48 ± 1.45 | 4.53 ± 0.94 | 3.76 ± 1.4 | 0.008 | 0.80 | < 0.001 |
| BDS | 4.34 ± 1.14 | 3.36 ± 1.06 | 2.2 ± 1.5 | 0.005 | 0.002 | < 0.001 |
| Language tests | ||||||
| SVF | 17.66 ± 4.6 | 12.65 ± 3.95 | 9.72 ± 4.79 | < 0.001 | 0.003 | < 0.001 |
| FAS | 35.5 ± 11.65 | 27.82 ± 9.9 | 20.2 ± 12.03 | 0.015 | 0.026 | < 0.001 |
| BNT | 63.36 ± 71.05 | 49 ± 9.37 | 38.52 ± 12.5 | 0.56 | 0.90 | 0.039 |
| Executive function tests | ||||||
| Stroop C,s | 50.05 ± 16.14 | 47.94 ± 13.25 | 70.4 ± 35.32 | > 0.99 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 |
| Stroop C, errors | 0.09 ± 0.03 | 0.03 ± 0.02 | 0.52 ± 1.05 | > 0.99 | 0.002 | 0.001 |
| Stroop I, s | 104.02 ± 28.08 | 130.47 ± 60.11 | 168.88 ± 90.98 | 0.27 | 0.042 | 0.001 |
| Stroop I, errors | 3.3 ± 4.71 | 6.94 ± 8.9 | 19.83 ± 18.55 | 0.85 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 |
| TMT-A, s | 61.18 ± 18.02 | 91.96 ± 50.45 | 161.52 ± 114.33 | 0.18 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 |
| TMT-B, s | 112.24 ± 74.07 | 141.59 ± 90.2 | 198.24 ± 133.52 | 0.60 | 0.06 | 0.001 |
| Visuospatial skill tests | ||||||
| Rey figure copy | 41.75 ± 3.15 | 27.12 ± 10.23 | 19.16 ± 13.19 | 0.13 | 0.91 | 0.005 |
| Clock drawing (0–10) | 9.09 ± 1.61 | 8.76 ± 1.85 | 5.48 ± 2.64 | 0.07 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 |
| LNI | 17.96 ± 1.38 | 17.94 ± 4.85 | 14.32 ± 4.31 | > 0.99 | 0.005 | < 0.001 |
aMCI = amnestic mild cognitive impairment; BDS = backward digit span; BNT = Boston naming test; C = congruent; CDR = Clinical Dementia Rating; FAS = phonological fluency for letters; FDS = forward digit span; I = incongruent; LNI = Luria’s neuropsychological investigation; MMSE = Mini-Mental Status Examination; RAVLT = Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; RAVLT A7 = delayed recall of Rey auditory verbal learning test; RAVLT RC-FP = Rey auditory verbal learning test true recognition (correct recognition – false positives); Rey = Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test; SD = standard deviation; SVF = semantic verbal fluency; TMT = Trail Making Test.
*
Unless indicated otherwise.