ADC Uniform Dataset (UDS): The Neuropsychologic test battery

Minimum data set in making for over ten years.  A spanish version of the UDS is available at https://www.alz.washington.edu.  Standard scoring is available at UDS Guidebook and Appendix, and later Neuropsychological Test Instructions, distributed to ADC's.  Version 2 differs in that logical memory story 2 delayed recall is done at 20 not 30 minutes with cueing with one detail from story now given.  Visuospatial measures were not used.  Focus of initial battery was Attention, speed of processing, executive function, episodic memory, and language.  Tests were selected by the panel with comments.  Tests utilized, with mean, sd, Q25, Q75, median and range for normals indicated:

 

1.  MMSE with a separate score for orientation out of ten -- note that its insensitive for dementia but is useful to tag milestones once dementia is established.  MMSE 29,1.3, 28, 30, 29, 17-20; Orientation items only: 9.7, 0.9, 10,10,10, 0-10.

 

2.  Digit Span Test from WMS -R, with 2 scores derived, namely total trials and longest digit sequence reproduced.

Digit span forward total trials:  8.6,2.1, 7,10,9, 1-12.

Digit span forward longest sequence:  6.7, 1.1, 6,8, 7, 0-8.

Digit span backwards total trials:  6.9, 2.2, 5,8,7,-12

Digit span backwards longest sequence: 5, 1.2, 4,6,5,1-7

 

3.  Trailmaking Test Parts A and B with standard rules but time limits of 150 seconds for Part A and 300 seconds for Part B. 

 

Part A Time in seconds:  34.6, 15.4, 25,40,31, 11-150.

Part B in seconds:  90.3, 50, 59, 105, 10-300

4.  Digit Symbol Coding from WAIS-R standard, with the score the total number of items completed in 90 seconds. Usually WMS R was used.

 

5. Logical memory stories--Immediate recall, and delayed recall. Test required at least 20 minute delay for delayed recall with notation of amount of time used for the delay.  Cue was given for second story. 

 

logical memory A total units, immediate recall  13.9 , 3.9, 11,17,14, 0-25

logical memory A delayed recall  12.6, 4.3, 10,16,13, 0-25

 

6.  Word lists were not used due to variability in implementation but centers were encouraged to use one and study its relationship to logical memory stories.

 

7.  Boston Naming Test short version using odd items, with discontinuation after six consecutive failures.  The score was the number named within a 20 second time limit plus the number named correctly with a semantic cue. 

 

27.2 , 3.2, 26, 29, 28, 2-30

 

8.  Verbal fluency was assessed using animal and vegetable list generation in one minute.

 

animals in 60 seconds:  20 , 5.6, 16,24, 20, 1-54

vegetable:  14.7, 4.4, 12,17,15,1-63.

 

9.  Additional items used:  FAQ (functional assessment questionnaire), behavioral symptoms from NPI-Q short form), and Geriatric Depression Scale. 

 

10.Inability to respond due to physical barriers was noted.

The non public domain items (most of test) were given in cooperation with manufacturers and consent.  Entire battery required 3-40 minutes was given annually.  Paper gives normal values.  Ceiling effects were obtained with perfect or nearly perfect scores on digit span forward and backwards (cannot exceed 8 and 7 respectively), BNT, MMSE orientation score, and total score.  On other tests some outlier scores were found (584/3268 had one or two outlier scores, 61 had 3 or more). 

 

 

Age, sex and education (demographics) were associated with nearly all results.  Males and females differed on more than half of test results.    Future tests will take into account additional qualitative information such as number of incorrect lines on the TMT.  Longitudinal studies will help separate abnormal from peak performance