Brief Test of Verbal Memory Using the Sentence in Alzheimer Disease

Aim: Memory testing is crucial for assessment of cognitive functions in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A recall of a sentence could serve for such purpose in clinical practice. Participants and methods: Patients with mild AD according to Mini-Mental State Examination scores of 24 +/- 3 points and the normal elderly persons with MMSE 29 +/- 1 points, of similar age, education and gender first learned one sentence three times (A: "Thirty grey mice ate raw cheese downstairs in the cellar last night" or B: "Seventeen golden stars seldom shine in the dark sky until daylight"). Following two distractions, they recalled it twice. Results: Patients with AD in comparison with the control seniors reproduced significantly fewer words in the triple learning phase (an average number of words at the first learning of a sentence A was 6 versus 8, in the second learning 7 vs. 9, in the third one 8 vs. 10), and after two distractions in the recall phase (firstly, 5 vs. 10, secondly, 5 vs. 10). The best indicator of memory functions was the first recall after the first distraction with the area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic of 0.91. The sensitivity was 89% and the specificity was 77% at a cut-off of <= 9 correctly recalled words. The second sentence B gave similar results. Conclusion: A new and original Czech 3-4 minute test using a sentence without any other aids may indicate memory impairment in mild AD. There is the comparable alternative sentence for repeated testing.