JST START University Ecosystem Promotion Type (University Promotion Type) Project Team, Headquarters for International Industry-University Collaboration, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8575, Japan.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Ibaraki, 305-8596, Japan.
BMC Geriatr. 2023 Feb 4;23(1):74. doi: 10.1186/s12877-023-03777-6.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not just a prodrome to dementia, but a very important intervention point to prevent dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has long been known that people with AD have a higher frequency of falls with some gait instability. Recent evidence suggests that vestibular impairment is disproportionately prevalent among individuals with MCI and dementia due to AD. Therefore, we hypothesized that the measurement of balance capability is helpful to identify individuals with MCI.
First, we developed a useful method to evaluate balance capability as well as vestibular function using Nintendo Wii balance board as a stabilometer and foam rubber on it. Then, 49 healthy volunteers aged from 56 to 75 with no clinically apparent cognitive impairment were recruited and the association between their balance capability and cognitive function was examined. Cognitive functions were assessed by MoCA, MMSE, CDR, and TMT-A and -B tests.
The new balance capability indicator, termed visual dependency index of postural stability (VPS), was highly associated with cognitive impairment assessed by MoCA, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was more than 0.8, demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity (app. 80% and 60%, respectively).
Early evidence suggests that VPS measured using Nintendo Wii balance board as a stabilometer helps identify individuals with MCI at an early and preclinical stage with high sensitivity, establishing a useful method to screen MCI.
轻度认知障碍（MCI）不仅是痴呆的前期阶段，还是预防阿尔茨海默病（AD）引起的痴呆的一个非常重要的干预点。人们早就知道，AD 患者跌倒的频率更高，有些步态不稳。最近的证据表明，由于 AD，前庭功能障碍在 MCI 和痴呆患者中更为普遍。因此，我们假设平衡能力的测量有助于识别 MCI 患者。
首先，我们开发了一种有用的方法，使用任天堂 Wii 平衡板作为稳定器和上面的泡沫橡胶来评估平衡能力和前庭功能。然后，招募了 49 名年龄在 56 岁至 75 岁之间、无明显临床认知障碍的健康志愿者，并检查了他们的平衡能力与认知功能之间的关系。认知功能通过 MoCA、MMSE、CDR 和 TMT-A 和 -B 测试进行评估。
新的平衡能力指标，称为姿势稳定性的视觉依赖指数（VPS），与 MoCA 评估的认知障碍高度相关，ROC 曲线下面积大于 0.8，表明具有较高的敏感性和特异性（分别约为 80%和 60%）。
早期证据表明，使用任天堂 Wii 平衡板作为稳定器测量的 VPS 有助于在早期和临床前阶段以较高的敏感性识别 MCI 患者，为 MCI 的筛查建立了一种有用的方法。
