rss
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2002;73:385-389 doi:10.1136/jnnp.73.4.385
  • Paper

Testing cognitive function in elderly populations: the PROSPER study

  1. P J Houx1,
  2. J Shepherd2,
  3. G-J Blauw3,
  4. M B Murphy4,
  5. I Ford2,
  6. E L Bollen3,
  7. B Buckley4,
  8. D J Stott2,
  9. W Jukema3,
  10. M Hyland4,
  11. A Gaw2,
  12. J Norrie2,
  13. A M Kamper3,
  14. I J Perry4,
  15. P W MacFarlane2,
  16. A Edo Meinders3,
  17. B J Sweeney4,
  18. C J Packard2,
  19. C Twomey4,
  20. S M Cobbe2,
  21. R G Westendorp3
  1. 1University Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  2. 2University Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
  3. 3Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
  4. 4University Cork, Cork, Ireland
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr R G J Westendorp, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, C-2-R, PO box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands;
 R.G.J.Westendorp{at}LUMC.nl
  • Received 29 April 2002
  • Accepted 3 July 2002
  • Revised 1 July 2002

Abstract

Objectives: For large scale follow up studies with non-demented patients in which cognition is an endpoint, there is a need for short, inexpensive, sensitive, and reliable neuropsychological tests that are suitable for repeated measurements. The commonly used Mini-Mental-State-Examination fulfils only the first two requirements.

Methods: In the PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER), 5804 elderly subjects aged 70 to 82 years were examined using a learning test (memory), a coding test (general speed), and a short version of the Stroop test (attention). Data presented here were collected at dual baseline, before randomisation for active treatment.

Results: The tests proved to be reliable (with test/retest reliabilities ranging from acceptable (r=0.63) to high (r=0.88) and sensitive to detect small differences in subjects from different age categories. All tests showed significant practice effects: performance increased from the first measurement to the first follow up after two weeks.

Conclusion: Normative data are provided that can be used for one time neuropsychological testing as well as for assessing individual and group change. Methods for analysing cognitive change are proposed.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.

    BMJ Careers - Latest neurology and neurosurgery jobs