Validity of Ain-Shams Cognitive Assessment tool (ASCA) in diagnosing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in comparison to Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS)

Abstract

MCI is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome that reflects a change in cognitive functions and deficits on neuropsychological testing but relatively intact daily living activities. MCI is a risk state for further functional and cognitive decline with 5-15% of people progressing to dementia per year. However, ~50% remain stable at 5 years, and in a minority, symptoms resolve over time (Dunne et al., 2021) There is a shortage in the tools detecting MCI in the elderly especially among illiterate population as the MMSE was introduced in 1975 as a bedside cognitive examination tool for psychiatric inpatients. The concept of MCI was not yet formally recognized while the MoCA was designed specifically with more difficult items in mind to increase the sensitivity for MCI in the psychogeriatric clinic setting (Breton et al., 2019). However, it does get influenced by educational level, ethnic diversities and lifestyle factors (Gagnon et al., 2013) (O’Driscoll & Shaikh, 2017). RUDAS is a brief cognitive test (BCT) developed and validated in Australia. (Storey et al., 2004). It has satisfactory psychometric properties and is not affected by sex, years of education or language (Rowland et al.,2006).