New Study Demonstrates Accuracy, Validity Of MCI Screen In Early Detection Of Alzheimer's Disease

A new study published in the
June issue of Journal of Alzheimer's Disease demonstrates the accuracy and
validity of a new mathematics-based memory assessment developed by Medical
Care Corporation to detect early signs of memory impairment due to
Alzheimer's disease and other related disorders. The assessment, called the
MCI Screen, outperformed two of the most widely used pen-and-paper tests
and its accuracy helps justify the importance of regular memory assessments
of people over 65 by primary care physicians, according to the study's
authors.


The 254-patient study, titled "Detecting Cognitive Impairment in
Primary Care: Performance Assessment of Three Screening Instruments," was
conducted by Douglas Trenkle, D.O., a primary care physician at Maine Coast
Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth, Maine, as a part of the Hancock County
Aging Project. It compared the MCI Screen to the two most widely used
pen-and-paper assessments: the Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) and the Clock
Drawing Test (CDT) in patients over 65 without previous diagnosis of memory
disorders. Those found to be impaired with any of the three assessments
received a standard diagnostic workup including blood tests and brain
imaging.



The MCI Screen, a simple, computer-based memory assessment, was 96
percent accurate in detecting impaired patients, while the MMSE was 72
percent accurate and the CDT 57 percent. The MCI Screen detected memory
disorders from a variety of conditions ranging from Alzheimer's disease (43
percent) to cerebrovascular disease (36 percent) to depression (3 percent).
Of the 254 patients assessed, 20 percent were found to have underlying
medical conditions. However, two-thirds had no subjective complaints of
impairment and would not have received medical attention if they had not
been screened for memory loss.



"This study shows that there is a test that can accurately and
efficiently detect memory disorders at early stages when treatment is most
effective," Dr. Trenkle said. "Too often we have relied on the two
widely-used memory screens, MMSE and CDT, which the study shows are not
valid for early detection. The accuracy of the MCI Screen demonstrates that
primary care physicians, who are the first point of contact in our heath
care system, can play significant roles in assessing and treating several
age-related diseases in a population that is rapidly aging."



William R. Shankle, M.D., of the Department of Cognitive Sciences at UC
Irvine, and Stanley P. Azen, Ph.D., of the Department of Preventative
Medicine, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California,
also co-authored the study.



Many conditions can cause memory impairment. These include Alzheimer's
disease, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and other disorders. Early
detection and appropriate intervention of any of these disorders improves
treatment outcome significantly and delays or prevents debilitating
conditions. In a typical primary care practice, patients with memory
impairment are either not getting enough attention or are being assessed by
less sensitive tools. This inevitably leads to late stage diagnoses where
treatment is not as effective. With the rapidly aging population and high
prevalence of such disorders in the baby boomer generation, early and
accurate detection of memory impairing disorders benefits the patients, the
caregivers and our health care system.



About Medical Care Corporation



Medical Care Corporation develops highly comprehensive dementia care
products for healthcare professionals. Their technology enables accurate
identification and effective management of memory loss from its earliest
stages onward. The Company's MCI Screen is 97.3% accurate in distinguishing
a pre-dementia stage called mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from normal
aging. The Company is also a leader in communicating the value of
prevention and early detection to patients and caregivers through its
website and educational materials. Additional information about the Company
is available at two websites: For Health Care Providers:
mccare; For Patients and Caregivers: preventad.


Medical Care Corporation

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