CANTAB object recognition and language tests to detect aging cognitive decline: an exploratory comparative study

Figures & data

Figure 1 Dendrograms from cluster analysis applied to isolated or combined neuropsychological test results.

Notes: These analyses revealed three main clusters of distinct performances with variable degrees of contribution from young and older adults as a function of the neuropsychological test results submitted to the analysis. (A) Cluster analysis using CANTAB test results in isolation. Performances were mostly segregated into three distinct clusters: two dominated mostly by aged subjects, and one mostly by young subjects. (B) Language test results in isolation. (C) CANTAB + Language test results in combination. Note that cluster analysis using CANTAB test results in isolation revealed better distinction between young adult and older adult performances. Red and blue colors distinguish older and young adults respectively.
Abbreviation: CANTAB, Cambridge Neuropsychological Tests Automated Battery.

Table 1 Probability density values (P-values) from discriminant analysis to detect which neuropsychological tests best contributed to cluster formation, either in isolation or in combination

Neuropsychological tests	CANTAB + Language	CANTAB	Language
RVP latency	4×10^−12	1×10^−10	–
RTI SAS	NS	0.030	–
SWM strategy	0.032	NS	–
Concision	0.010	–	NS
Information units	0.027	–	NS
Metaphors	–	–	4×10^−8
Emotional prosody	–	–	0.021

Abbreviations: CANTAB, Cambridge Neuropsychological Tests Automated Battery; MMSE, Mini Mental State Examination; NS, nonsignificant; RTI, reaction time; RVP, Rapid Visual Information Processing; SAS, simple accuracy score; SWM, Spatial Working Memory.

Figure 2 Graphic representations of forward stepwise discriminant function analysis based on isolated (A, B) or combined CANTAB and Language (C) tests results.

Notes: Note that the combined results discriminated better between young and older adult’s performances. RVP latency, concision ratio, SWM strategy, and Information units were the variables that better contributed to cluster formation (D).
Abbreviations: CANTAB, Cambridge Neuropsychological Tests Automated Battery; RTI, reaction time; RVP, Rapid Visual Information Processing; SAS, simple accuracy score; SWM, Spatial Working Memory.

Figure 3 Graphic representations of mean scores and dispersion from the language test performances of young and older adults.

Notes: Narrative results based on information units (A), concision ratio (B), metaphors (C), and emotional prosody (D) revealed different degrees of dispersion, although the average values of older and young adults’ performances differed significantly. Mean values are indicated by black dots in both young (blue circles) and older (red circles) groups. Note the smaller dispersion in the concision ratio results from the narrative tests.

Figure 4 Graphic representations of mean scores and dispersion from CANTAB performances of young and older adults.

Notes: Results based on RVP latency (A), RTI simple (B), SWM strategy (C), revealed different degrees of dispersion, although the average values of older and young adults’ performances differed significantly. Mean values are indicated by black dots in both young (blue circles) and older (red circles) groups. Note the smaller dispersion in the young adult’s performances on RTI simple from CANTAB.
Abbreviations: CANTAB, Cambridge Neuropsychological Tests Automated Battery; RTI, reaction time; RVP, Rapid Visual Information Processing; SWM, Spatial Working Memory.