Development of a Brief Screen to Detect Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: The QuickSort

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sorting tests detect cognitive decline in older adults who have a neurodegenerative disorder, such as Alzheimerʼs and Parkinsonʼs disease. Although equally effective at detecting impairment as other cognitive screens (e.g. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)), sorting tests are not commonly used in this context. This study examines the QuickSort, which is a new brief sorting test that is designed to screen older adults for cognitive impairment. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: General community and inpatients, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Older (≥60 years) community-dwelling adults (n = 187) and inpatients referred for neuropsychological assessment (n = 78). A normative ..