Neuropsychological Assessment of Dementia and Cognitive Disorders

Eun Hyun Seo

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2018.57.1.2

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Seo: Neuropsychological Assessment of Dementia and Cognitive Disorders

Special Article

J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc 2018;57(1):2-11.

Published online: 17 January 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2018.57.1.2

Neuropsychological Assessment of Dementia and Cognitive Disorders

Eun Hyun Seo, PhD

Premedical Science, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea

Address for correspondence Eun Hyun Seo, PhD Premedical Science, College of Medicine, Chosun University, 309 Pilmun-daero, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea Tel +82-62-230-7664 Fax +82-62-229-1029 E-mail ehseo@chosun.ac.kr

Revised 2 February 20185 February 2018 Accepted 5 February 2018

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Neuropsychological assessment is concerned with the behavioral expression of brain function through a series of cognitive testing tools. These results provide the objective identification of cognitive deficits, and play a key role in the detection of dementia and related cognitive disorders. New diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD biomarker models suggest that cognitive declines are evidence of advanced neurodegenerative disease. Accordingly, the traditional contribution of neuropsychological assessment in early detection and diagnosis has been brought into question. In this review, the utility of neuropsychological assessment concerning dementia and cognitive disorders has been revisited. Neuropsychological assessment still plays a role in differential diagnosis as well as diagnosis. It is also useful to document cognitive changes along the dementia trajectory and to predict progression. Neuropsychological performance can estimate functional status and predict functional changes in everyday life. Identification of cognitive strengths and weaknesses can assist in intervention planning. However, the utility of neuropsychological assessment is not guaranteed if the neuropsychological tests have insufficient reliability, validity, and normative information. Commonly used cognitive screening tests and neuropsychological test batteries were examined. Lastly, several special considerations in the assessment of older adults were discussed.

Keywords: Neuropsychological assessment, Alzheimer's disease, Dementia, Mild cognitive impairment, Early detection, Biomarker

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