Quantitative analysis for a cube copying test

概要

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The aim of this study was to develop a novel quantitative method for examining the cube copying test. The analysis has been only through qualitative observation for the test. Therefore we applied a quantitative method to analyze cube copying test results. Figures were digitized and their symmetry was studied to determine correlation coefficients (CCs). This study included 19 elderly subjects (68-92 years) who complained of memory disturbance or being afraid of dementia, and 9 younger subjects (21-60 years) who visited our hospital with minor head trauma or dizziness. Six CCs were examined between the sample and drawn figures, between the drawn figure and 180°-rotated drawn figure, between the left half and right half of the drawn figure, between the upper half and lower half of the drawn figure, between a quadrant and an opposite 180°-rotated quadrant of the drawn figure. All CCs were significantly low for the elderly group. The elderly group also showed mild deterioration in the Hasegawa's Dementia Scale (21. 1/30) and CT findings with cortical and/or ventricular dilatation and lacunae. No neurological deficit was noted for the younger group. Our quantitative method may be useful for evaluating not only constructional apraxia but also dementia and mild cognitive impairment.
2010-06-01