Regarding working memory, several recent reports on degenerative disorders have focused on working memory function 12, 13, 14, in which working memory decline was identified in those disorders even in patients with mild cognitive impairment 14.
#DIGIT SPAN SUBTEST HOW TO#
Although most patients with posterior cortical atrophy have the neuropathology of Alzheimer’s disease as in amnesic Alzheimer’s disease, it is of importance to discriminate posterior cortical atrophy from amnesic Alzheimer’s disease because symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy differ substantially from those of amnesic Alzheimer’s disease and how to help and support patients with posterior cortical atrophy should be specifically designed for their difficulties 3. Based on a neuropsychological examination for visuospatial dysfunction, visuospatial working memory was found to be impaired for patients with posterior cortical atrophy when compared with those with amnesic Alzheimer’s disease 9, 10, 11. Visuospatial dysfunction is the most common feature for mild posterior cortical atrophy 2. Thus, even if patients with posterior cortical atrophy receive regular neuropsychological examination, there is the possibility that their condition might not be diagnosed. Although visuospatial function might in part be evaluated with a subtest in the MMSE, namely copying the intersecting pentagons, its score results in only 1 point of the 30-point scale associated with the MMSE. In addition, typical simple neuropsychological tests, e.g., Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) 8, do not focus on symptoms of this condition rather, their goal is mainly to assess orientation, calculation, repetition, and memory functions. This condition is under-recognized and underdiagnosed 1, 2, 3 because a diagnosis of posterior cortical atrophy is sometimes challenging among assessments of neurodegenerative conditions 3, in particular, of the mild form and can be delayed not only because of the rarity of this condition but also because, aside from visuospatial dysfunction, patients with mild posterior cortical atrophy function almost normally with respect to memory, language, and behavior and maintain a relatively preserved motivation and insight 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Posterior cortical atrophy is a rare degenerative condition which commonly occurs between ages 50 and 65 and is characterized mainly by visuospatial dysfunction 1, 2.
The tapping span test is a simple and potentially useful diagnostic tool for patients with mild posterior cortical atrophy, as it reflects visuospatial working memory function. The results from the tapping span tests were strongly correlated with those from the visuospatial working memory tests. The results of the tapping span and visuospatial working memory tests were worse for the posterior cortical atrophy group when compared with the control group. The participants were subjected to the tapping span test and several visuospatial working memory tests. Age- and severity-matched individuals with amnesic Alzheimer’s disease (n = 9) were also recruited as a control group.
Eight patients with mild posterior cortical atrophy were recruited. In this study, we examined whether the tapping span test is a potential diagnostic tool for posterior cortical atrophy and what impairment the tapping span test is indicative of in this condition. A diagnosis of mild posterior cortical atrophy sometimes challenging and can be delayed because there are currently no established neuropsychological examination methods that can easily be used in clinical settings. Posterior cortical atrophy is a rare degenerative condition with prominent visuospatial dysfunction which commonly occurs between ages 50 and 65.
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