2022 Pilot Awards for Global Brain Health Leaders (GBHI)

A brief cognitive assessment for the diverse Israeli Arab population

Can cognitive screening assessments be adapted to improve the diagnosis of dementia in Arabic speaking individuals?

Rafi Hadad, M.D.
Rambam Health Care Campus
Haifa, Israel

Background

Diagnosis of Alzheimer's and other dementias at early stages allows the best chance for treatment to alleviate symptoms. Early diagnosis also  gives caregivers and individuals with dementia access to services and resources to minimize the burden of the disease. In Israel and other Middle Eastern countries, diagnosis can be delayed due to deficiencies in healthcare infrastructure among other barriers. However, cognitive tests that can be used for early detection of dementia have not been translated and validated into other languages such as Arabic. 

Dr. Rafi Hadad proposes a pilot study that will use the common cognitive assessment test, Tablet-based Cognitive Assessment Tool-Brain Health Assessment (TabCAT-BHA), translated to Arabic with the hope of creating a culturally validated screening tool. 

Research Plan

Dr. Hadad and colleagues will study the feasibility of the Arabic-translated TabCAT-BHA cognitive screening assessment for mild cognitive impairment and dementia in hospital settings in Israel. The researchers will recruit and administer the test to 90 individuals who have been diagnosed with cognitive impairment or dementia, as well as 90 cognitively unimpaired individuals, across various religious groups and education levels to assess the accuracy of this method across a diverse range of individuals.

Impact

If successful, this study could offer a novel screening tool for potentially improving and establishing consistent early diagnosis of dementia in older individuals across Israel. It could also provide a validated method for detecting dementia in other Arabic-speaking countries.