Helmes, Edward (2011) Cognitive screening of older adults: the utility of pentagon drawing. In: Abstracts for the 2011 International Neuropsychological Society Mid-Year Meeting/ASSBI 4th Pacific Rim Conference. p. 4. From: The 2011 International Neuropsychological Society Mid-Year Meeting/ASSBI 4th Pacific Rim Conference, 6-9 July 2011, Auckland, New Zealand.

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Abstract

Objective: Drawing tests have a long history in neuropsychological assessment. Such tasks have used a range of abstract shapes and objects, including Simple geometric figures, houses, 3-dimensional cubes, and human figures. A popular geometric figure has been the two intersecting pentagons originally popularized in the Bender Gestalt test. Reproducing the pentagons was the main visuospatial task on the original Mini Mental State Examination, and it remains in use in the revised version of that widely used screening text. Scoring criteria on the MMSE are binary: perfect reproduction of two five-sided figures with a four-sided figure at the intersection. The modified MMSE of Teng and Chui (1987) used more refined 10-point scoring for the elements of the figure, which should be more reliable and provide better group discrimination.

Participants and Methods: Pentagon drawings from 8,702 older community-dwelling Canadians (59.3% female), with a mean age of 75.5 years (SD = 6.99) and 10.1 years of education (SD = 3.89) were used. Mean scores for the whole sample are reported, as well as for sub-samples who underwent a full clinical assessment and were diagnosed as cognitively intact, demented, or cognitively impaired, but not demented. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the utility of pentagon drawing as a diagnostic tool to diagnose cognitive impairment.

Results: Binary scoring was less effective in discriminating groups than the 10-point system and less reliable.

Conclusions: The discussion focuses on the role of Simple, nonverbal tasks in the cognitive screening of older adults.

Item ID:	17601
Item Type:	Conference Item (Presentation)
ISSN:	1443-9646
Keywords:	aging; dementia; drawing tests
Related URLs:	Organisation
Date Deposited:	21 Feb 2012 01:21
FoR Codes:	17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1701 Psychology > 170102 Developmental Psychology and Ageing @ 50% 17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1701 Psychology > 170106 Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology @ 50%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920112 Neurodegenerative Disorders Related to Ageing @ 50% 92 HEALTH > 9201 Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions) > 920111 Nervous System and Disorders @ 50%
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