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Can cognitive screening assessments be adapted to improve the diagnosis of dementia in Mongolia?
Tselmen Daria
Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Background
Studies have shown that standardized cognitive tests to diagnose dementia often do not consider the cultural and language needs across different cultures. In Mongolia, for example, older individuals with dementia may remain undiagnosed or diagnosed late since the early signs of cognitive impairment are often accepted as part of normal aging. As the population of older individuals begins to rise in Mongolia, there is a need to develop culturally appropriate screening tools that could be used to identify individuals with early dementia living in this region. Dr. Tselmen Daria proposes a pilot study that will adapt currently used tests and assess them in individuals in Mongolia with the aim of creating a validated and culturally appropriate screening tool.
Research Plan
Dr. Daria and colleagues plan to first modify several commonly used cognitive screening assessments that have been validated in other populations. To do this, they will first translate each test to Mongolian, while including universal and culturally appropriate images as well as language that does not have translation bias. Next, the team will administer the new screening tests to 100 individuals, with various education levels and stages of cognitive impairment, at health care centers to assess the feasibility of this new screening test in a range of individuals.
Impact
This study could provide insight into the prevalence of dementia in Mongolia. Furthermore, the knowledge gained by this study could potentially provide healthcare providers with important tools for early dementia screening in older individuals in this region.
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