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. 2023 Feb;29(2):148-158.
doi: 10.1017/S1355617722000091. Epub 2022 Feb 21.

Dissociating Statistically Determined Normal Cognitive Abilities and Mild Cognitive Impairment Subtypes with DCTclock

Emily F Matusz  1 , Catherine C Price  2 , Melissa Lamar  3 , Rod Swenson  4 , Rhoda Au  5 , Sheina Emrani  6 , Victor Wasserman  6 , David J Libon  1   6 , Louisa I Thompson  7   8
Affiliations

Dissociating Statistically Determined Normal Cognitive Abilities and Mild Cognitive Impairment Subtypes with DCTclock

Emily F Matusz et al. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether the DCTclock can detect differences across groups of patients seen in the memory clinic for suspected dementia.

Method: Patients (n = 123) were classified into the following groups: cognitively normal (CN), subtle cognitive impairment (SbCI), amnestic cognitive impairment (aMCI), and mixed/dysexecutive cognitive impairment (mx/dysMCI). Nine outcome variables included a combined command/copy total score and four command and four copy indices measuring drawing efficiency, simple/complex motor operations, information processing speed, and spatial reasoning.

Results: Total combined command/copy score distinguished between groups in all comparisons with medium to large effects. The mx/dysMCI group had the lowest total combined command/copy scores out of all groups. The mx/dysMCI group scored lower than the CN group on all command indices (p < .050, all analyses); and lower than the SbCI group on drawing efficiency (p = .011). The aMCI group scored lower than the CN group on spatial reasoning (p = .019). Smaller effect sizes were obtained for the four copy indices.

Conclusions: These results suggest that DCTclock command/copy parameters can dissociate CN, SbCI, and MCI subtypes. The larger effect sizes for command clock indices suggest these metrics are sensitive in detecting early cognitive decline. Additional research with a larger sample is warranted.

Keywords: Aging; Boston process approach; Clock drawing; Cognition; Digital clock drawing test; Digital technologies; Executive function.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

David J. Libon and Rod Swenson receive royalties from Oxford University Press.

David J. Libon receives royalties from Linus Health.

Rhoda Au serves as a scientific advisor to Signant Health and a scientific consultant to Biogen Inc.

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