New dementia test: This is how accurately the age of onset can be predicted!

In Germany, a significant number of people suffer from Alzheimer's dementia, a form of the disease that is currently not curable. In a recent research result, a new test was developed that can predict the age of onset of Alzheimer's dementia. This test, known as the Florey Dementia Index (FDI), was published in the renowned journal Jama Network and could play an important role in the diagnosis of dementia diseases in the future Fulda newspaper reported.

The underlying study analyzed data from 3,787 patients and shows that the test can accurately predict the occurrence of mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's dementia up to 19 months and eight months respectively. All that is required for prediction is the person's age and the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB score), which assesses the severity of dementia taking various factors into account. Interestingly, the FDI is based on non-invasive measurements and could therefore be used in clinical settings without prior statistical knowledge. However, this is a prototype that cannot yet be used in practical applications. The prerequisite for this is the identification of specific forms of dementia, which is not possible without biomarkers.

Validation of the Florey Dementia Index

How Patient Care Online reported, the Florey Dementia Index (FDI) shows a mean absolute error rate of 2.78 years for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 1.48 years for Alzheimer's dementia (AD). In a simulated study with 93 participants, the error rates were as high as 1.57 years for MCI and 0.70 years for AD. The development and validation of the FDI was based on data from participants in the Australian Imaging, Biomarker, and Lifestyle (AIBL) study and the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). All participants were 60 years or older and had at least two CDR-SB scores. Individuals with MCI or dementia from non-Alzheimer's causes were excluded from this analysis.