Verbal fluency and risk of dementia.

TitleVerbal fluency and risk of dementia.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsSutin, AR, Stephan, Y, Terracciano, A
JournalInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Volume34
Issue6
Pagination863-867
ISSN Number1099-1166
KeywordsAlzheimer's disease, Cognition & Reasoning
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Verbal fluency is a common neuropsychological test that is impaired in dementia. We test whether verbal fluency is a prospective risk factor for incident dementia, cognitive impairment not dementia (CIND), and conversion from CIND to dementia.

METHODS: Participants (N = 18 189) from the Health and Retirement Study were administered a standard test of verbal fluency and were assessed for cognitive status every 2 years between baseline and 6 years' follow-up.

RESULTS: Every standard deviation increase in verbal fluency was associated with an approximately 60% reduced risk of incident dementia, an approximately 25% reduced risk of incident CIND, and an approximately 25% reduced risk of conversion from CIND to dementia. These associations were independent of age, gender, education, race, ethnicity, and APOE risk status. The associations were slightly weaker (but still significant) for African Americans and individuals with lower education. There was no interaction between verbal fluency and APOE risk status.

CONCLUSION: Verbal fluency is an easily administered task that is predictive of incident cognitive impairment.

DOI10.1002/gps.5081
User Guide Notes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30729575?dopt=Abstract

Alternate JournalInt J Geriatr Psychiatry
Citation Key10082
PubMed ID30729575
PubMed Central IDPMC6530594
Grant ListR01 AG053297 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R21 AG057917 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States