Diagnostic accuracy of the repeatable battery of the assessment of neuropsychological status update, Spanish version, in predicting Alzheimer’s disease among Hispanic older adults in the United States reporting memory problems

Abstract

Objectives

There are few standardized, Spanish-language diagnostic tools to help identify Hispanic persons at early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study evaluated the accuracy of the Spanish version of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status-Update (RBANS) in predicting AD in older Hispanic adults in the United States reporting memory problems.

Methods

We analyzed data from age, sex, and education level propensity score-matched Hispanic memory clinic patients with (n = 38) and without (n = 38) a clinical diagnosis of AD. Estimates of diagnostic accuracy included sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Results

After controlling for sex and matched pairs, the Total Scale score [area under curve (AUC) = 0.7417] and the Immediate (AUC = 0.7258) and Delayed (AUC = 0.7735) Memory index scores provided better estimates of diagnostic accuracy than Language, Attention, and Visuospatial/Constructional index scores. A minus 2-standard deviation (SD) cut point enhanced the predictive probability of the Delayed Memory index score. A cut point of −1.5 SD optimized the predictive probability of the Total Scale score.

Conclusions

These results suggest that optimal cutoff values for the RBANS Delayed Memory index and Total Scale scores that may help identify Hispanic patients with AD as part of a comprehensive diagnostic AD assessment.

Keywords:

• Cognitive screening test
• dementia of the Alzheimer’s type
• Latino elders
• RBANS
• sensitivity

Acknowledgments

Idalhi Barnes-Marrero, MS, PsyD, acknowledges Linnette Castillo, PsyD, for her clinical/research mentorship and ongoing support. In addition, a special thanks to Juan Simon, MD (affiliated with Conviva Physician Group, LLC; formerly CAC-Florida Medical Centers, LLC) for his contribution in the selection of participants in the present study. Lisandra Mendoza, MS, PsyD acknowledges Miriam J. Rodriguez, PhD and Patricia Garcia, PsyD, for their ongoing research mentorship and acknowledge Linnette Castillo, PsyD, for supporting her professional development.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

Monica Nicosia, PhD, Nicosia Medical Writer LLC, provided medical editing and writing support, funded by Humana Inc. This work was supported by Humana, Inc.