Home › Research › Lewy body dementia
Construct and concurrent validity of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-revised
Shapiro AM, Benedict RH, Schretlen D, Brandt J.. The Clinical neuropsychologist, 1999-08-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The present investigation examined the validity of the revised Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT-R). In a principal components analysis with varimax rotation, measures of new learning and delayed recall loaded on a single factor distinguishable from measures related to general cognitive function and visual memory. The HVLT-R also correlated most strongly with other tests of verbal memory and relatively weakly with a test of general intelligence. Group comparisons showed that normal controls performed better than age- and education-matched patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) or vascular dementia (VaD). Discriminant function analyses and Bayesian statistics revealed high classification accuracies for dementia patients versus controls. When scores on the HVLT-R and other neuropsychological tests were subjected to discriminant function analyses, performance on the HVLT-R delayed recognition task was found to be the most useful in discriminating patients with AD from those with VaD. We conclude that the HVLT-R is a valid test of verbal learning and memory that is best suited for use with elderly patients suspected of dementia.
Key findings
- Group comparisons showed that normal controls performed better than age- and education-matched patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) or vascular dementia (VaD).
- Discriminant function analyses and Bayesian statistics revealed high classification accuracies for dementia patients versus controls.
- We conclude that the HVLT-R is a valid test of verbal learning and memory that is best suited for use with elderly patients suspected of dementia.
Why it matters
The revised Hopkins Verbal Learning Test was valid for measuring verbal learning and memory, and normal controls scored better than patients with probable Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia. Its delayed recognition task was the most useful measure for telling Alzheimer's disease patients apart from those with vascular dementia.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, 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 (The Clinical neuropsychologist) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | The Clinical Neuropsychologist: journal h-index 128 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1999 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 514 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 17.7 citations a year over 29 year(s) since 1999 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 78 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Jason Brandt: h-index 94 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University at Buffalo, State University of New York: institution h-index 918 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 10726605) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Shapiro, A. M., Benedict, R. H., Schretlen, D., & Brandt, J. (1999). Construct and concurrent validity of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-revised. The Clinical neuropsychologist. https://doi.org/10.1076/clin.13.3.348.1749
Vancouver
Shapiro AM, Benedict RH, Schretlen D, Brandt J. Construct and concurrent validity of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-revised. The Clinical neuropsychologist. 1999. doi:10.1076/clin.13.3.348.1749. PMID: 10726605.
BibTeX
@article{shapiro1999-10726605,
author = {Shapiro, A. M. and Benedict, R. H. and Schretlen, D. and Brandt, J.},
title = {{Construct and concurrent validity of the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-revised}},
journal = {The Clinical neuropsychologist},
year = {1999},
doi = {10.1076/clin.13.3.348.1749},
pmid = {10726605},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1076/clin.13.3.348.1749}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Later studies that cite this one
3 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references.