BY FRANCES STEIMONTS
In a study conducted by Förstl et al., 55 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer1s Disease (AD) and 66 healthy elderly controls were biannually examined on three measures: the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG), a cognitive test; an EEG and a CT, measuring alpha and theta levels; and a measure of total cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as an estimate of brain atrophy. Between examinations, subjects diagnosed with AD deteriorated by an average of 27.6 points on their CAMCOG scores whereas, the healthy control group deteriorated very little. In addition, subjects diagnosed with AD had lower alpha/theta levels and a higher proportion of intracranial cerebrospinal fluid than did the control group. According to Förstl et al. (1996), the duration of Alzheimer1s Disease was associated with severe cognitive deterioration (as evidenced by performance scores on the CAMCOG), a decrease in alpha/theta ratios, and an increase of intracranial CSF space; advancing age contributed to decreased performance on the CAMCOG and increased brain atrophy. According to Förstl et al. (1996), performance on cognitive tests, such as the CAMCOG, appears to be a sensitive indicator of the degenerative process of AD whereas, nueroimaging, neurophysiology, and genetic risk markers may be more important for the early diagnosis of AD rather than for the prediction of the course of AD.
REFERENCE
Förstl, H., Sattel, H., Besthorn, C., Daniel, S., Geiger-Kabisch, C., Hentschel, F., Sarochan, M., & Zerfab, R. (1996).Longitudinal Cognitive, Electroencephalographic and Morphological Brain Changes in Ageing and Alzheimer1s Disease. British Journal of Psychiatry, 168, 280-286.