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Neuropsychological Measures that Predict Progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer's type dementia in Older Adults: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Belleville S, Fouquet C, Hudon C, Zomahoun HTV, Croteau J, Consortium for the Early Identification of Alzheimer’s disease-Quebec.. Neuropsychology review, 2017-10-10
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
This study aimed to determine the extent to which cognitive measures can predict progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's type dementia (AD), assess the predictive accuracy of different cognitive domain categories, and determine whether accuracy varies as a function of age and length of follow-up. We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed data from longitudinal studies reporting sensitivity and specificity values for neuropsychological tests to identify individuals with MCI who will develop AD. We searched articles in Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and the Web of Science. Methodological quality was assessed using the STARDem and QUADAS standards. Twenty-eight studies met the eligibility criteria (2365 participants) and reported predictive values from 61 neuropsychological tests with a 31-month mean follow-up. Values were pooled to provide combined accuracy for 14 cognitive domains. Many domains showed very good predictive accuracy with high sensitivity and specificity values (≥ 0.7). Verbal memory measures and many language tests yielded very high predictive accuracy. Other domains (e.g., executive functions, visual memory) showed better specificity than sensitivity. Predictive accuracy was highest when combining memory measures with a small set of other domains or when relying on broad cognitive batteries. Cognitive tests are excellent at predicting MCI individuals who will progress to dementia and should be a critical component of any toolkit intended to identify AD at the pre-dementia stage. Some tasks are remarkable as early indicators, whereas others might be used to suggest imminent progression.
Key findings
- Verbal memory measures and many language tests yielded very high predictive accuracy.
- Other domains (e.g., executive functions, visual memory) showed better specificity than sensitivity.
- Predictive accuracy was highest when combining memory measures with a small set of other domains or when relying on broad cognitive batteries.
- Cognitive tests are excellent at predicting MCI individuals who will progress to dementia and should be a critical component of any toolkit intended to identify AD at the pre-dementia stage.
- Some tasks are remarkable as early indicators, whereas others might be used to suggest imminent progression.
Why it matters
This review found that cognitive tests, especially those measuring verbal memory and language, are very good at predicting which people with mild cognitive impairment will develop Alzheimer's dementia. These tests can help identify who will progress, but they do not treat or prevent the disease.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants2,365
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 68/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neuropsychology review) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Neuropsychology Review: journal h-index 143 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies (from PubMed type “Meta-Analysis”) |
| 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 | 2 / 5 | 2017 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 2,365 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 310 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 28.2 citations a year over 11 year(s) since 2017 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 15 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 97 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Jordie Croteau: h-index 13 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Université de Montréal: institution h-index 1,020 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29019061) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 68 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1007/s11065-017-9361-5
- PubMed: 29019061
- Original source →
- Free full text: Neuropsychology Review →
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Belleville, S., Fouquet, C., Hudon, C., Zomahoun, H. T. V., Croteau, J., & Consortium for the Early Identification of Alzheimer’s disease-Quebec. (2017). Neuropsychological Measures that Predict Progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer's type dementia in Older Adults: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neuropsychology review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-017-9361-5
Vancouver
Belleville S, Fouquet C, Hudon C, Zomahoun HTV, Croteau J, Consortium for the Early Identification of Alzheimer’s disease-Quebec. Neuropsychological Measures that Predict Progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer's type dementia in Older Adults: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Neuropsychology review. 2017. doi:10.1007/s11065-017-9361-5. PMID: 29019061.
BibTeX
@article{belleville2017-29019061,
author = {Belleville, S. and Fouquet, C. and Hudon, C. and Zomahoun, H. T. V. and Croteau, J. and {Consortium for the Early Identification of Alzheimer’s disease-Quebec}},
title = {{Neuropsychological Measures that Predict Progression from Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer's type dementia in Older Adults: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis}},
journal = {Neuropsychology review},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1007/s11065-017-9361-5},
pmid = {29019061},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11065-017-9361-5}
}
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