PhD Scientific Days 2024

Poster Session G - Mental Health Sciences 2.

Validation of the Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination in a Hungarian sample - Partial Results

Text of the abstract

Introduction
Neurocognitive disorders, especially Alzheimer’s disease cause an emerging problem for the population and healthcare worldwide. The Saint Louis University Mental Status Examination (SLUMS) is a short, 11-item test to detect cognitive decline and is similar to Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Our main motive in validation of the SLUMS was that earlier researches found it a more sensitive tool to detect mild cognitive impairment than MMSE, and the SLUMS is shorter in time to administer than Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE).
Aims
The aim of the study was to validate the SLUMS in a Hungarian sample. Now we would like to introduce some of the results so far.
Methods
SLUMS was administered as part of a larger-scale study, participants were recruited through participation in that study. 106 people aged 50 or over (mean age = 69.2 (61 females, 45 males)) have been recruited into the study. Participants were administered the SLUMS, ACE (including the MMSE), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Trail-Making A and B Test (TMT-A and TMT-B). SLUMS’ reliability and correlation with the above mentioned neurocognitive tests was also investigated.
Results
The SLUMS showed a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.730, which is an acceptable value. However, item 10 of SLUMS, which is the figure recognition and size differentiation task, was found to negatively correlate with the total of the factors, which needs further investigation. The SLUMS showed the following significant correlations with the neurocognitive tests. Using the Spearman’s rho the SLUMS showed a correlation of 0.756 (p < 0.001) with AKV, 0.593 (p < 0.001) with MMSE, 0.631 (p < 0.001) with sum of 5 recalls from the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, -0.509 (p < 0.001) with TMT-A and -0.529 (p < 0.001) with TMT-B.
Conclusion
The SLUMS was found to be a reliable tool for screening cognitive impairment in a Hungarian sample. Its significant correlations with all the administered neurocognitive tests shows that it is a valuable tool to screen cognitive impairment. Furthermore, it is worth investigating its other properties.
Funding
OTKA FK 138385
JPND - www.jpnd.eu
2019-2.1.7-ERA-NET-2020-00006
GINOP-2.3.4-15-2020-00008 project supported the project
National Brain Research Program III (NAP2022-I-9/2022) Momentum Research Grant of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Lendulet-2023_94).