Conversion between the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale and Mini‐Mental State Examination test scores in majority and minority populations

• Published in: Brain and behavior 2024-09, Vol.14 (9), p.e3650-n/a
• Main Authors: Delgado‐Álvarez, Alfonso, Valles‐Salgado, Maria, Delgado‐Alonso, Cristina, Matias‐Guiu, Jorge, Matias‐Guiu, Jordi A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alzheimer Disease - diagnosis; Alzheimer's disease; Cognitive ability; cross‐cultural neuropsychology; Dementia; Dementia - diagnosis; Disease; equipercentile; Female; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Male; Memory; Mental Status and Dementia Tests - standards; Middle Aged; mild cognitive impairment; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority Groups; Neuropsychological Tests - standards; Neuropsychology; Original; Population; Reproducibility of Results; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 2162-3279; 2162-3279
• DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3650

Introduction Despite the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) having significant advantages as a cognitive screening tool, particularly for minority populations, the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) test is the most widely used test for cognitive screening in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to develop a conversion table to predict MMSE scores from observed RUDAS scores, allowing an easy‐to‐use method to compare both screening tests. Methods The equipercentile equating method was used to develop the conversion table using a training sample consisting of cognitively intact participants and individuals with early‐stage AD. The resulting conversion table was validated in two samples, comprising participants from majority and minority populations assessed in Spanish. Results The conversion table demonstrated excellent reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients of.92 in both validation samples. Conclusion This study provides a conversion table between RUDAS and MMSE scores, improving the comparability of these cognitive screening tools for use in clinical and research purposes. This study aimed to develop a conversion table to predict MMSE scores from observed RUDAS scores, allowing an easy‐to‐use method to compare both screening tests. The equipercentile equating method was used to develop the conversion table using a training sample consisting of cognitively intact participants and individuals with early‐stage AD. The resulting conversion table was validated in two samples, comprising participants from majority and minority populations assessed in Spanish, showing excellent reliability.