Cross-cultural cognitive examination: validation of a dementia screening instrument for neuroepidemiological research.

OBJECTIVE

Validation of a new instrument for screening dementia, the Cross Cultural Cognitive Examination (CCCE), is described.

DESIGN

Criterion and concurrent validation and cross-cultural comparison of a new instrument.

PARTICIPANTS

All individuals over the age of 40 in a village in southern Guam participated in a door-to-door survey. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease patients and healthy controls aged 40-90 participated in the US mainland study.

MEASUREMENTS

The CCCE was administered to all subjects. Effects of age, language, education, and gender on test performances and social-cultural differences were assessed. Concurrent validation of the test with respect to other well accepted screening instruments was determined.

RESULTS

High specificity (> 94%) and sensitivity (> 99%) for detecting dementia were found in Guam and US mainland samples, and these were not biased by differences in gender, linguistic preference, education, or cultural background. Sensitivity and specificity of the CCCE matched or exceeded that of already accepted dementia screening instruments.

CONCLUSIONS

These validation studies support the usefulness of the CCCE for identifying patients with generalized dementia, rather than focal types of cognitive impairment, quickly and reliably in cross-cultural neuroepidemiological research.