Validation of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

TLDR

The study aimed to validate the ACE‑III against standardised neuropsychological tests and the ACE‑R in early dementia. The study included 61 dementia patients (33 FTD, 28 AD) and 25 controls, who underwent ACE‑III testing. ACE‑III scores correlated strongly with standardised neuropsychological tests across key domains and performed comparably to the ACE‑R, confirming its validity as a screening tool for cognitive deficits in FTD and AD.

Abstract

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> The aims of this study were to validate the newly developed version of the<b> </b>Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE-III) against standardised neuropsychological tests and its predecessor (ACE-R) in early dementia. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 61 patients with dementia (frontotemporal dementia, FTD, n = 33, and Alzheimer's disease, AD, n = 28) and 25 controls were included in the study. <b><i>Results:</i></b> ACE-III<b> </b>cognitive domains correlated significantly with standardised neuropsychological tests used in the assessment of attention, language, verbal memory and visuospatial function. The ACE-III also compared very favourably with its predecessor, the ACE-R, with similar levels of sensitivity and specificity. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The results of this study provide objective validation of the ACE-III as a screening tool for cognitive deficits in FTD and AD.