Human cognitive neuroscience seminar

Speaker: Mónica de Icaza Valenzuela

Topic: Cognitive screening in dementia with the The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS)

Abstract: The Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS) was developed to assess changes in cognition and behaviour related to frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In this talk I will present the research done during my PhD in relation to this test. We gathered data of 120 healthy participants to analyse the effect age, education, IQ and gender have on the test. We created new cut-off scores based on education and age. In the same study we were able to compare the ECAS with the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination (ACE-III).

Furthermore, we have some preliminary results of data gathered in the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic from patients with dementia diagnoses that have done the ECAS. The aim of this study is to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the ECAS for not only FTD diagnoses, but also for Alzheimer’s disease.

Additionally, we have done a longitudinal assessment of patients at the clinic and we have some preliminary data to present. We have tested them with the ECAS and have gathered information from their carers regarding their behaviour, function and independence. We are planning to see participants at three different time points to create severity cut-offs in the ECAS.