Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

<jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Pre-morbid intelligence level is routinely assessed in Alzheimer's disease using the National Adult Reading Test (NART). This practice is based on the assumption that pronunciation of irregular words remains unaffected by the disease process. Recent reports have suggested that reading ability may become compromised in moderately demented subjects.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Method</jats:title><jats:p>Sixty-eight probable Alzheimer patients were classified into stages of severity (minimal, mild and moderate) using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). NART and demographic equations were used to estimate pre-morbid ability.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>A significant correlation emerged between dementia severity and reading ability, NART <jats:italic>v.</jats:italic> MMSE scores, <jats:italic>r</jats:italic> = 0.46, <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> &lt; 0.01. When the total sample was subdivided into moderate, mild and minimal subgroups, significant between-group differences emerged, despite the groups being well matched for age, sex, and years of full-time education. Pre-morbid IQ, as estimated by demographic regression equations, did not correlate with dementia severity.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>NART performance is compromised in moderate Alzheimer disease, and the measure provides a serious underestimate of pre-morbid IQ in patients with an MMSE of 13 or less.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Original publication

DOI

10.1192/bjp.167.5.659

Type

Journal article

Journal

British Journal of Psychiatry

Publisher

Royal College of Psychiatrists

Publication Date

11/1995

Volume

167

Pages

659 - 662