Study on the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) for recent memory impairment and amnestic mild cognitive impairment in memory clinic

Mitsuru Wada

Wada Clinic

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate neuropsychological tests to distinguish amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) from normal aging. A total of 165 patients who visited our memory clinic were classified into healthy control (HC, Clinical Dementia Rating:CDR 0, n=24) group, aMCI (CDR 0.5, n=55) group, very mild AD dementia (CDR 0.5, n=25) group, and mild AD dementia (CDR 1, n=61) group, and were examined for the significant difference between HC and aMCI groups in various neuropsychological tests. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis between HC and aMCI groups indicated that delayed recall (DR) on the Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) was highest in distinction ability and next was the fifth trial (T5) in AVLT. Each cut-off value was 4 for DR and 7 for T5. The learning curve in AVLT flattened with the decline of the cognitive function. These results suggest that AVLT was a useful test for evaluating recent memory impairment and diagnosing aMCI.

Address correspondence to Dr. Mitsuru Wada, Wada Clinic (5-6-18 Higashikanesawa-Cho, Hitachi, Ibaraki 316-0014, Japan)