Can the RAVLT predict deterioration from MCI to dementia? Data from long term follow up

Objective: To assess whether the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) could differentiate deterioration from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) to dementia. Methods: Twenty-six participants who were diagnosed with MCI performed the RAVLT and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) at baseline and after nearly a decade (M = 8.8 years, SD = 3.16), in order to evaluate whether they progressed to dementia. Results: Twelve participants [5 males, 7 females; age M = 63.7 (7.7)] kept their diagnoses of MCI; 14 participants [11 males, 3 females; age M = 75.0 (6.5)] converted to dementia. Both groups had similar MMSE scores at baseline [26.6 (0.6); and 26.6 (0.7) respectively]. Significant differences between dementia and MCI groups were found on most measures of the RAVLT at baseline: Immediate memory [p = .04], delayed recall [p = .003], total learning [p = .01], learning rate [p = .002], retrieval efficiency [p = .004], and false alarms [p = .004]. Thus, the RAVLT results were significantly worse at baseline in those who later converted. The results remain the same when controlling for age. Conclusion: The results extend previous findings with follow-up of nearly a decade demonstrating that most of the RAVLT measures are sensitive to differentiate conversion from MCI to dementia.