Is Low Psychomotor Speed a Marker of Brain Vulnerability in Late Life? Digit Symbol Substitution Test in the Prediction of Alzheimer, Parkinson, Stroke, Disability, and Depression

Abstract

Low psychomotor speed is associated with an increased risk of developing various brain outcomes: dementia, AD, PD, disability, depressive symptoms, and marginally stroke. Low psychomotor speed may be the consequence of a number of discrete cerebral abnormalities and could be considered as a marker of brain vulnerability. In clinical practice, a low score in DSST should be seen as a warning sign of possible negative evolution.