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Pavia Memory Project: Study design and first results

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Abstract

This paper describes the design and first results of the cross-sectional phase of a study on memory impairment in elderly subjects (Pavia Memory Project). The target population consisted of the 1,046 subjects born in 1925 and currently living in Pavia. Four hundred and thirty-six subjects (plus 287 interviewed at home) participated in the first stage, which consisted of a semistructured anamnestic interview. The 400 interviewed subjects with none of the exclusion criteria participated in the second stage, which consisted of a memory test battery, a standardized neurological examination and screening procedures for depression (GDS) and dementia (MMSE). On the basis of the memory scores, three groups were defined: memory impairment (MI: 8.8%), mild memory impairment (MMI: 39.8%); normal (N: 51.3%). There were more failures on the visuo-spatial memory tests. Depression was equally distributed in the N and MI groups (about 15%), but was more frequent in the MMI group (27%). Abnormal neurological signs were largely independent of memory performance. Two cohorts (of MI and N subjects) underwent neuropsychological and instrumental (CT-scan, EEG, ERPs, eye movements) assessment, which will be regularly repeated in the longitudinal phase.

Sommario

Viene presentato il disegno di uno studio sui disturbi mnesici del soggetto anziano (Progetto Pavia Memoria) e vengono riportati i primi risultati relativi alla fase trasversale. La popolazione in studio era rappresentata dai 1046 soggetti nati nel 1925 e residenti a Pavia. 436 soggetti (più 287 intervistati a domicilio) hanno partecipato al primo stadio che consisteva in una intervista semistrutturata per la raccolta di dati anamnestici. 400 soggetti che non presentavano criteri di esclusione hanno partecipato al secondo stadio che consisteva in una batteria di test di memoria, in un esame neurologico standardizzato e in procedure di screening per la depressione (GDS) e la demenza (MMSE). Sulla base dei punteggi ottenuti ai test mnesici sono stati definiti tre gruppi di soggetti: disturbo mnesico (MI: 8.8%); disturbo mnesico lieve (MMI: 39.8%) e normali (N: 51.3%). I test di memoria visuo-spaziale sono risultati alterati con maggiore frequenza. La depressione era ugualmente distribuita nei gruppi MI e N (circa 15%), ma era più frequente nel gruppo MMI. La presenza di segni patologici all'esame neurologico era per lo più indipendente dalle prestazioni mnesiche.

Due coorti (di soggetti MI e N) sono state sottoposte a valutazioni neuropsicologiche e strumentali (TC, EEG, potenziali evento-correlati, movimenti oculari) che verranno ripetute a regolari intervalli nella fase longitudinale.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Neurologico “C. Mondino”, via Palestro, 3, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Cosi V., Citterio A., Ratti M. T. & Romani A.

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  1. Cosi V.
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  2. Citterio A.
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  3. Ratti M. T.
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  4. Romani A.
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Cosi, V., Citterio, A., Ratti, M.T. et al. Pavia Memory Project: Study design and first results. Ital J Neuro Sci 16, 141–148 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02282980

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02282980

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