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Original Article

The MWT-B as an Estimator of Premorbid Intelligence in MCI and Dementia

Published Online:September 17, 2013https://doi.org/10.1024/1016-264X/a000099

Abstract

The estimation of premorbid intelligence is pivotal in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Our aim was to investigate the feasibility of the German MWT-B, which has been recommended for this purpose, as well as its sensitivity to cognitive impairment. Participants were 442 members of a catholic women’s order. Cognitive impairment was identified in 142 sisters. After adjusting for demographic variables and depressive symptoms, the degree of impairment was significantly associated with MWT-B scores. On the basis of the demographic variables of the unimpaired, a predictive model for MWT-B scores was developed. By means of this model, expected scores were calculated for the impaired and compared with observed scores. The differences between observed and predicted scores increased with the severity of impairment. Since performance on the MWT-B is even impaired in mild degrees of cognitive impairment, the test seems not to be suited as an estimator of premorbid intelligence in MCI and dementia.


Der MWT-B als Schätzer der prämorbiden Intelligenz bei MCI und Demenz

Die Einschätzung der prämorbiden Intelligenz ist Bestandteil der Diagnostik von leichter kognitiver Beeinträchtigung (mild cognitive impairment; MCI) und Demenz. Ziel unserer Studie war es, die Durchführbarkeit des hierfür oft verwendeten MWT-B und seine Sensitivität gegenüber kognitiver Beeinträchtigung bei MCI und Demenz zu untersuchen. Teilnehmer waren 442 Mitglieder eines katholischen Frauenordens. Bei 142 Schwestern wurden kognitive Beeinträchtigungen festgestellt. Nach Adjustierung für demografische Variablen und depressive Symptomatik war der Grad der Beeinträchtigung signifikant mit den MWT-B-Werten assoziiert. Auf der Basis der demografischen Daten der Unbeeinträchtigten wurde ein Vorhersagemodell für MWT-B-Werte erstellt. Mit diesem Modell wurden erwartete Werte für die Beeinträchtigten errechnet und mit den beobachteten Werten verglichen. Erwartete und beobachtete Werte unterschieden sich auf allen Schweregradstufen der kognitiven Beeinträchtigung signifikant voneinander und die Punktwertdifferenzen stiegen mit zunehmendem Schweregrad der Beeinträchtigung an. Der MWT-B ist sensitiv gegenüber kognitiver Beeinträchtigung und scheint kein geeigneter Schätzer der prämorbiden Intelligenz bei MCI und Demenz zu sein.

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