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Routine cognitive screening in a neurology practice: Effect on physician behavior
Rosenbloom M, Borson S, Barclay T, Hanson LR, Werner A, Stuck L, McCarten J.. Neurology. Clinical practice, 2016-02-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Alzheimer disease is one of the most prevalent and costly neurologic disorders. American Academy of Neurology guidelines call for diagnosis and treatment when dementia is present, but provide no specific instruction relating to cognitive screening. Methods Our center piloted a cognitive screening initiative using the Mini-Cog, which was administered to all neurology patients aged ≥70 years without a history of a cognitive disorder. Results There was a 37.4% screen positive rate on the Mini-Cog. The percentage of patients with subjective memory complaints did not differ between patients screening positive vs negative on the Mini-Cog. Prospective analysis over an 18-month postscreening period showed that individuals screening positive for cognitive impairment were 10 times more likely to have follow-up cognitive assessment by the provider ( p p = 0.003), and 3 times more likely to receive a diagnosis of cognitive impairment or dementia ( p Conclusion Further studies are needed to better understand factors influencing neurologist actions in the evaluation and treatment of cognitive impairment.
Key findings
- Results There was a 37.4% screen positive rate on the Mini-Cog.
- Prospective analysis over an 18-month postscreening period showed that individuals screening positive for cognitive impairment were 10 times more likely to have follow-up cognitive assessment by the provider ( p < 0.0001), almost 3 times more likely to be referred for neuropsychological testing ( p = 0.003), and 3 times more likely to receive a diagnosis of cognitive impairment or dementia ( p < 0.0001) compared to those screening negative.
Why it matters
This study found that routine cognitive screening in a neurology practice led to more follow-up cognitive assessments and more diagnoses of cognitive impairment or dementia. It concerns detection and diagnosis, not treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Effect size37.4%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 35/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, 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 (Neurology. Clinical practice) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Neurology Clinical Practice: journal h-index 60 (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 | 2016 — within 20 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 | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| 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 | 2 / 7 | Cited 11 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.9 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author John Riley McCarten: h-index 22 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 26918200) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 35 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1212/cpj.0000000000000186
- PubMed: 26918200
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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 names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Rosenbloom, M., Borson, S., Barclay, T., Hanson, L. R., Werner, A., Stuck, L., et al. (2016). Routine cognitive screening in a neurology practice: Effect on physician behavior. Neurology. Clinical practice. https://doi.org/10.1212/cpj.0000000000000186
Vancouver
Rosenbloom M, Borson S, Barclay T, Hanson LR, Werner A, Stuck L, et al. Routine cognitive screening in a neurology practice: Effect on physician behavior. Neurology. Clinical practice. 2016. doi:10.1212/cpj.0000000000000186. PMID: 26918200.
BibTeX
@article{rosenbloom2016-26918200,
author = {Rosenbloom, M. and Borson, S. and Barclay, T. and Hanson, L. R. and Werner, A. and Stuck, L. and McCarten, J.},
title = {{Routine cognitive screening in a neurology practice: Effect on physician behavior}},
journal = {Neurology. Clinical practice},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1212/cpj.0000000000000186},
pmid = {26918200},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/cpj.0000000000000186}
}
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