Performance on a Dementia Screening Test in Relation to Demographic Variables

Abstract

The influence of educational background on test performance is most evident in individuals with less education. Commonly used dementia screening tests may be unfair to poorly educated individuals, especially women and rural residents. Efforts should be made to develop ecologically relevant cognitive tests for the intended study populations. To help distinguish test bias from different rates of cognitive decline, the study populations should include individuals in predementia age ranges.