RESUMO
The decline of verbal memory and learning is one of the main symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Hopkins Verbal Test-Revised (HVLT-R) to discriminate subjects with AD, amnestic MCI (aMCI), and a healthy control group in a Spanish population. Two hundred ninety-eight subjects were assessed with the HVLT-R and the Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MEC 35). There were significant differences in the HVLT-R delay recall and total free recall scores of aMCI, AD, and control subjects. Cut points with satisfactory sensitivity and specificity were found and showed better sensitivity than the MEC 35 in detecting AD and aMCI. Recognition scores failed to differentiate between impaired and control subjects. The HVLT-R delay recall and total free recall scores present high diagnostic utility for their employment in clinical practice in AD and MCI in a Spanish population.