On 11 Jun 2009 at 13:49, Rick Froman wrote: > I understand the principle here, and this may have already been addressed, > but is the number of 65-69 year olds per thousand with dementia the > appropriate comparison group? Unless we are going to deploy this test > willy-nilly on all 65-69 year olds (for example, when they show up to > renew their driver's license or each time they go to the doctor along with > their weight and bp), it seems that someone taking a screening test for > Alzheimer's is probably already in a select population of individuals who > are showing some symptoms or evidence of a disorder.
Given its ease of administration, and the fact that people can give it to themselves in five minutes, I think there's a good chance that anyone who ever forgets a name will want to take this test to reassure themselves that they don't have Alzheimer's (and then find out the opposite). In addition, screening means that _everyone_ gets tested, whether they show symptoms or not. The 65-69 range seems to me the target population, as this is exactly the age when people are essentially symptomless but are starting to worry about it (trust me). > I think the test itself is also pretty humorous. With its questions like, > "Who is the Prime Minister?" "In what year did the 1st World War start?", Yes, it's unfortunate that they chose items which are clearly specific to a British population, which suggests a rather haphazard approach to test construction. These are easily adjusted to make the test more suitable internationally, but then there will be a need to re-do the validation. Not an impressive move on their part, and another indication that this is a bad test. > I think its secret purpose might be to declare the average USA citizen > demented Well. isn't he? After all, he put up with Bush for 8 years. 'Though he does seems to be in remission at the moment. If interested, you may now admire my rapid response to BMJ at http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters?lookup=by_date&days=1 (Scan down a page or so to "TYM test: too many false positives".) You knew this was what I was up to, didn't you? Stpehen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [email protected] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
