Resumen

SERRANI, Daniel. Spanish Validation of the TYM Test for Dementia Screening in an Argentine Population. Univ. Psychol. [online]. 2014, vol.13, n.1, pp.265-284. ISSN 1657-9267.

The aim of this study is the validation and identification of cut-off scores for a fast neuro-cognitive test, called TYM (Test Your Memory) which goal is dementia screening. It was translated and adapted to meet a sample profiles that dwell in Rosario. Results between patients and normal controls matched for age and gender were compared. To establish cut-off points the TYM test was compared against other standardized well-known test (Test de Lobo or MEC, Addenbrook Cognitive Test in Spanish -Revised or ACE-R and Pfeiffer Test or PFAQ) in two samples of subjects with 50 demented patients and 100 normal controls each one. Patients with dementia completed the TYM with a mean score of 37/50 and controls scored 47/50. Correlation with the other tests was good. A score of <40/50 had a sensibility of 84% (95% CI 82.2-88.7%) and specificity of 95% (95% CI 92.1-96.9%) in dementia. Cut-off scores were settled using ROC curves. TYM detected 97% of dementia patients while MEC and ACE-R detected 78%. Positive and negative predictive value of the TYM with a cut-off score of <40 was 45% y 95% respectively, with a dementia prevalence rate of 5%. This cut-off score was reduced to 39/50 for those subjects with low level education (< 6 years of education). The TYM reveals as a simple, low cost test. Patients and controls completed the test fast and easily and it stands as a valid tool for dementia screening. A prevention must be made, however, against using it with no control by sanitary agents or clinics, who must be in charge of scoring and interpretation of the test results.

Palabras clave : validation; screening; dementia; memory; cognitive impairment; primary health; neurocognitive test; neurocognitive psychology; dementia; development.

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