Harmonizing neuropsychological assessment for mild neurocognitive disorders in Europe
Marina Boccardi, Andreas U. Monsch, Clarissa Ferrari, Daniele Altomare, Manfred Berres, Isabelle Bos, Andreas Buchmann, Chiara Cerami, Mira Didic, Cristina Festari, Valentina Nicolosi, Leonardo Sacco, Liesbeth Aerts, Emiliano Albanese, Jean‐Marie Annoni, Nicola Ballhausen, Christian Chicherio, Jean‐François Démonet, Virginie Descloux, Suzie Diener, Daniel Ferreira, Jean Georges, Anton Gietl, Nicola Girtler, Ingo Kilimann, Stefan Klöppel, Nicole Kustyniuk, Patrizia Mecocci, Nathalie Mella, Martina Pigliautile, Katrin Seeher, Steven D. Shirk, Alessio Toraldo, Andrea Brioschi‐Guevara, Kwun Chuen Gary Chan, Paul K. Crane, Alessandra Dodich, Alice Grazia, Nicole A. Kochan, Fabricio Ferreira de Oliveira, Flavio Nobili, Walter A. Kukull, Oliver Peters, Inez H.G.B. Ramakers, Perminder S. Sachdev, Stefan Teipel, Pieter Jelle Visser, Michael Wagner, Sandra Weıntraub, Eric Westman, Lutz Froelich, Henry Brodaty, Bruno Dubois, Stefano F. Cappa, David P. Salmon, Bengt Winblad, Giovanni B. Frisoni, Matthias Kliegel
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Harmonized neuropsychological assessment for neurocognitive disorders, an international priority for valid and reliable diagnostic procedures, has been achieved only in specific countries or research contexts. METHODS: To harmonize the assessment of mild cognitive impairment in Europe, a workshop (Geneva, May 2018) convened stakeholders, methodologists, academic, and non-academic clinicians and experts from European, US, and Australian harmonization initiatives. RESULTS: With formal presentations and thematic working-groups we defined a standard battery consistent with the U.S. Uniform DataSet, version 3, and homogeneous methodology to obtain consistent normative data across tests and languages. Adaptations consist of including two tests specific to typical Alzheimer's disease and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. The methodology for harmonized normative data includes consensus definition of cognitively normal controls, classification of confounding factors (age, sex, and education), and calculation of minimum sample sizes. DISCUSSION: This expert consensus allows harmonizing the diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders across European countries and possibly beyond.