Game-changing Cognitive Screen Reveals Dementia Risk

A new self-reporting tool developed by Murdoch University, the McCusker Subjective Cognitive Impairment Inventory (McSCI; pronounced “mack-see”), promises to revolutionize early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

About McSCI

Published recently in Age and Ageing, the McSCI is the result of over a decade of dedicated research led by Professor of Psychology and Clinical Neuroscience Hamid Sohrabi at Murdoch’s Centre for Healthy Ageing, part of the Health Futures Institute. Collaborating with experts from Edith Cowan University, Macquarie University, and the University of Western Australia, and with funding from Alzheimer’s Research Australia and the McCusker Charitable Foundation, Professor Sohrabi and his team have developed a tool that can identify individuals with moderate to severe levels of subjective cognitive decline (SCD) with an astounding 99.9 percent accuracy.

How It Works

The McSCI is a 46-item self-report questionnaire that evaluates concerns across six cognitive domains:

• Memory
• Language
• Orientation
• Attention and concentration
• Visuoconstruction abilities
• Executive function

Importantly, the tool is Open Access, meaning it is available at no cost to clinicians and researchers. Professor Sohrabi envisions the McSCI becoming a standard instrument for general practitioners and specialists such as geriatricians and neurologists to screen for early dementia.

Early Detection is Key

The importance of early detection in the management of Alzheimer’s cannot be overstated. According to Professor Ralph Martins AO, Director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research Australia, “Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is essential for treatments to be effective. The McSCI is a powerful tool to screen individuals at high risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.”

With over 480,000 Australians currently living with dementia, and Alzheimer’s being the most commonly diagnosed form in older adults, the need for reliable early detection methods is critical. Advances in immunotherapies, such as the FDA-approved drugs Lecanemab and Donanemab, indicate that the earlier Alzheimer’s is detected, the more effective the treatment can be.

Addressing a Growing Need

Australia’s ageing population underscores the urgency for such a tool. By 2050, it is expected that 1 million Australians will be living with dementia. The McSCI provides a much-needed solution for early identification and intervention, helping to manage the disease before it progresses.

Supporting Research and Future Implications

Professor Sohrabi’s research highlighted the McSCI’s reliability, particularly at higher levels of SCD, which is often the case in the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease. This makes the tool particularly effective for identifying those at risk rather than those already in the clinical stages of dementia.

Alzheimer’s Research Australia CEO, Professor Vicky Vass, expressed her enthusiasm: “We are delighted to have supported this game-changing research. The McSCI is a significant leap forward in the early detection and management of dementia, offering immense promise for those at risk. This tool will undoubtedly make a substantial impact on cognitive health screening and provide hope for countless individuals and their families.”

Conclusion

The McSCI is more than just a screening tool—it is a beacon of hope for early dementia detection and management. By providing accurate, reliable, and accessible cognitive health screening, it promises to make a profound impact on the lives of individuals and families affected by dementia.