VISUOSPATIAL PERFORMANCE IN VERY OLD DEMENTED PERSONS - AN INDIVIDUALDIFFERENCE ANALYSIS

This study examines selected demographic, psychometric, and biological measures as predictors of visuospatial performance in a sample of 98 persons with mild to moderate dementia. Visuospatial performance was m easured using standardized neuropsychology instruments, namely: Poppel reuter's figures, the dock test, and block design. Although multiple m easures were initially correlated with performance on the selected vis uospatial tests, the Mini-Mental State Examination was the exclusive p redictor of Poppelreuter's figures and the clock test scores. For bloc k design, years of education also contributed to the prediction model, but only among mildly demented persons. These results suggest that di sease severity plays a dominant role in the prediction of visuospatial performance in dementia, particularly in more advanced stages of the disease. The differential role of education in predicting block design performance in mild vs. moderate dementia was also highlighted.