Validity of auditory verbal learning test in diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the validity of World Health Organization-University of California-Los Angeles Auditory Verbal Learning Test (WHO-UCLA AVLT) in the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODS

Using WHO-UCLA AVLT, we assessed 183 AD patients (AD group),1283 subjects with normal cognitive status (normal control group), and 134 individuals suffered from other diseases easy to be confused with AD (confused control group).

RESULTS

The AVLT score was 40.9∓0.3 in normal control group, 30.7∓0.9 in confused control group, 16.6∓1.0 in mild AD group, and 10.2∓1.2 in moderate AD group after adjustment for educational level, age, sex, and rural/urban residence (all P<0.05). With the 5th percentage of the overall score as the cutoff point, this tool showed a sensitivity of 86.3% and a specificity of 93.3%.

CONCLUSION

WHO-UCLA CVLT is highly sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of AD.