Predictors of performance on the MMSE and the DRS-2 among American Indian elders.

Little is known about factors that predict older American Indians' performance on cognitive tests. This study examined 137 American Indian elders' performance on the MMSE and the Dementia Rating Scale-Second Edition (DRS-2). Multivariate regression identified younger age, more education, not receiving Supplemental Security Income, and frequent receipt of needed health care as predictors of better performance on the MMSE. Better performance on the DRS-2 was predicted by more education, boarding school attendance, not receiving Supplemental Security Income, and frequent receipt of needed health care. This study points to the importance of economic and educational factors on cognitive test performance among American Indian elders.

Using the Frontal Assessment Battery to identify executive function impairments in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A preliminary experience.

Up to 50% of persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) develop cognitive impairments, particularly of executive function (EF). The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) provides a method for rapid assessment of EF. We investigated the FAB as an assessment of cognitive impairment among 16 subjects with ALS, and evaluated their performance on the FAB and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Raw FAB and MMSE scores were Z-transformed using published age- and education-based norms. FAB Z-scores were significantly lower than MMSE Z-scores (p<0.03). Eight subjects (50%) were impaired (Z < or = -2) on the FAB while no subjects were impaired on the MMSE. MMSE and FAB scores did not vary as function of disease duration, laterality of onset, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) scores. Further study of the suitability of the FAB as a domain-specific screening measure of executive dysfunction for ALS is warranted.

Core curriculum for training in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry.

Recognizing the fundamental congruence between behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry, the Joint Committee on Subspecialty Certification of the American Neuropsychiatric Association (ANPA) and the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology (SBCN) assert that these historically separate but parallel disciplines can be merged into a single subspecialty area of medicine: Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry. The authors first describe the historical background for the development of this medical subspecialty. Second, the goals and objectives for training in Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry are outlined. Finally, a core curriculum for fellowship training in Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry developed by SBCN and the ANPA is presented.