Evaluation of the screening power of Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument for probable Alzheimer's disease using voxel-based morphometry

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to compare two screening methods, total score of the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASIT) and the combined score for the short-term memory and orientation domains (CASIR) for screening and grading probable Alzheimer's disease (AD), based on their correlations with voxel-based morphometry (VBM).Materials and methodsForty-five subjects with probable AD and normal controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging and CASI testing. Their corresponding T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were analyzed using VBM.ResultsVBM results showed that in moderate-to-severe AD subgroups, significant whole-brain gray matter loss was detected using both CASIT and CASIR. Significantly more voxels were detected using the CASIT compared with the CASIR system in mild AD subjects (P<.05).ConclusionsBased on their correlations with VBM results, there is no significant difference for CASIR and CASIT for grading moderate-to-severe AD subgroups, and CASIR scoring system may be more accurate and effective than the CASIT for screening mild AD.