Testing visual perception in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer disease

Wood, Joshua S.; Firbank, Michael J.; Mosimann, Urs P.; Watson, Rosie; Barber, Robert; Blamire, Andrew M.; O'Brien, John T. (2013). Testing visual perception in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer disease. American journal of geriatric psychiatry, 21(6), pp. 501-508. Elsevier 10.1016/j.jagp.2012.11.015

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OBJECTIVE

Visuoperceptual deficits are common in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Alzheimer disease (AD). Testing visuoperception in dementia is complicated by decline in other cognitive domains and extrapyramidal features. To overcome these issues, we developed a computerized test, the Newcastle visuoperception battery (NEVIP), which is independent of motor function and has minimal cognitive load.We aimed to test its utility to identify visuoperceptual deficits in people with dementia.

PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENTS

We recruited 28 AD and 26 DLB participants with 35 comparison participants of similar age and education. The NEVIP was used to test angle, color, and form discrimination along with motion perception to obtain a composite visuoperception score.

RESULTS

Those with DLB performed significantly worse than AD participants on the composite visuoperception score (Mann-Whitney U = 142, p = 0.01). Visuoperceptual deficits (defined as 2 SD below the performance of comparisons) were present in 71% of the DLB group and 40% of the AD group. Performance was not significantly correlated with motor impairment, but was significantly related to global cognitive impairment in DLB (rs = -0.689, p <0.001), but not in AD.

CONCLUSION

Visuoperceptual deficits can be detected in both DLB and AD participants using the NEVIP, with the DLB group performing significantly worse than AD. Visuoperception scores obtained by the NEVIP are independent of participant motor deficits and participants are able to comprehend and perform the tasks.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Geriatric Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
UniBE Contributor:	Mosimann, Urs Peter
Subjects:	600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	1064-7481
Publisher:	Elsevier
Language:	English
Submitter:	Pascal Wurtz
Date Deposited:	24 Apr 2014 10:23
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:29
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.jagp.2012.11.015
PubMed ID:	23567415
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/43020