["The 5 words": a simple and sensitive test for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is under-diagnosed in France. Today only an estimated 50% of patients are identified. Diagnosis of AD is particularly difficult because the amnesic syndrome, characteristic of the disease, is often confused with memory dysfunction that is frequent during the process of aging. The improvement in the diagnostic conditions of AD relies on the availability of a simple and reliable tool for screening memory disorders of organic origin.

METHOD: The 5-word test studies the recall of a short list, which the physician ensures the patient has registered. Its construction permits the identification of patients exhibiting objective memory disorders. A validation study has been conducted in 86 patients suffering from AD and 126 persons complaining of functional memory disorders.

RESULTS

The study has shown the sensitivity (91%) and specificity (87%) of the 5-word test in identifying patients with AD.

CONCLUSION

This is a rapid (2 minutes) and simple test that is easy to use in medical practice for the screening of AD.