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Cognitive assessment across normal aging and subjective cognitive decline using PGIMS and Stroop color-word test: A cross-sectional study
Akshata Rao, Abhijith Rajaram Rao, Bhawana Painkra, Sakthi Kiruthika, Sunil Kumar, Meenal Thakral, Swati Bajpai, Shodhan Aithal et al.. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus, 2025-03-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Early detection of abnormal neurodegeneration amidst normal cognitive aging is crucial. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may indicate Alzheimer's disease (AD) onset. Thus, we assess cognitive domains across the aging spectrum using simple neuropsychological tools. In this cross-sectional study, we examined 44 SCD individuals, 40 older controls (OC), and 20 young controls (YC) aged 40-60 years. Participants underwent demographic assessments, history evaluations, and screening using the Geriatric Depression and Anxiety Scales and the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale. Cognitive assessments included the PGI Memory Scale (PGIMS) and Stroop test, measuring memory and executive function. Both SCD and OC scored notably lower than YC in verbal retention of dissimilar words (Coefficient: -0.34, 95% CI: -0.64 to -0.04) and in the Stroop word test (SCD Co-efficient: -0.08, 95% CI: -0.16 to 0.01 and OC Co-efficient: -0.07, 95% CI: -0.14 to 0.01) and the Stroop Color test (SCD Coefficient: -0.19; 95% CI: -0.31 to -0.07 and OC Co-efficient: -0.10, 95% CI: -0.21 to 0.01). SCD individuals scored significantly lower in the Stroop color-word tests (SCWT), and delayed recall memory in PGIMS (Co-efficient: -0.11, 95%CI: -0.21 to -0.02) and -0.62; 95% CI: -1.19 to -0.04, respectively). Cognitive aging affects auditory short-term memory and processing speed while preserving mental balance. SCD is marked by deficits in delayed recall and executive function, suggesting early cognitive decline. Identifying these impairments with simple neuropsychological tools aids early detection, but further research with larger samples, longitudinal data, and biomarkers is needed to refine diagnosis and track neurodegeneration.
Key findings
- SCD individuals scored significantly lower in the Stroop color-word tests (SCWT), and delayed recall memory in PGIMS (Co-efficient: -0.11, 95%CI: -0.21 to -0.02) and -0.62; 95% CI: -1.19 to -0.04, respectively).
Why it matters
In this cross-sectional study, individuals with subjective cognitive decline scored significantly lower on Stroop color-word tests and delayed recall memory compared with controls. It examines cognitive differences across aging and subjective cognitive decline but does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus: journal h-index 12 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Prasun Chatterjee: h-index 16 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.aggp.2025.100133
- Original source →
- Free full text: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Rao, A., Rao, A. R., Painkra, B., Kiruthika, S., Kumar, S., Thakral, M., et al. (2025). Cognitive assessment across normal aging and subjective cognitive decline using PGIMS and Stroop color-word test: A cross-sectional study. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aggp.2025.100133
Vancouver
Rao A, Rao AR, Painkra B, Kiruthika S, Kumar S, Thakral M, et al. Cognitive assessment across normal aging and subjective cognitive decline using PGIMS and Stroop color-word test: A cross-sectional study. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.aggp.2025.100133.
BibTeX
@article{rao2025-3faadad1,
author = {Rao, Akshata and Rao, Abhijith Rajaram and Painkra, Bhawana and Kiruthika, Sakthi and Kumar, Sunil and Thakral, Meenal and Bajpai, Swati and Aithal, Shodhan and others},
title = {{Cognitive assessment across normal aging and subjective cognitive decline using PGIMS and Stroop color-word test: A cross-sectional study}},
journal = {Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.aggp.2025.100133},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aggp.2025.100133}
}
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