Clarke, Abby
(2022)
Examining the Use of Cognitive Assessments in Clinical and Healthy Populations: A Focus
on Spatial Cognition.
Masters thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.
Abstract
Spatial navigation and orientation deficits are often presented in early stages of Alzheimer’s
disease (AD) and can even be recognised in the predementia stage of Mild Cognitive Impairment
(MCI). Despite this, specialized tests of spatial cognition are not used in clinical settings as part of
MCI/AD screening procedures. Currently, the most widely used cognitive marker for AD
diagnosis is episodic memory. Episodic memory decline is evident not only in other forms of
dementia but also during healthy ageing. This complicates the early detection of AD which is
essential in allowing for early intervention and treatment of the disease. Recent research has
focused on spatial navigation/orientation as a potential cognitive marker for MCI and AD and has
shown greater specificity in detecting preclinical AD compared to episodic memory. Two widely
used clinical screening tools for MCI/AD detection are the Mini Mental State Examination
(MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). In Chapter 2, the usefulness of these
tests in MCI/AD detection was examined, as well as utility of spatial subscales in predicting AD
conversion from MCI. MoCA subscales relating to spatial ability predicted MCI progression to
AD and reversion to cognitively normal, highlighting the importance of assessing spatial cognition
in these clinical populations. Tests of spatial cognition were used in Chapter 3 with a healthy
population to determine their use in a clinical setting as possible follow-up assessments with
MCI/AD patients. These tests were deemed useful for examining spatial cognition in a healthy
population, although further research would be required in order to inform clinical practice. This
thesis displays promising early findings for the use of spatial cognition tests as screening tools for
MCI/AD.
| Item Type: |
Thesis
(Masters)
|
| Keywords: |
Cognitive Assessments; Clinical; Healthy; Populations; Spatial Cognition; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering > Psychology |
| Item ID: |
16562 |
| Depositing User: |
IR eTheses
|
| Date Deposited: |
22 Sep 2022 11:02 |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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