Usefulness of primitive reflexes in demented and non-demented cerebrovascular patients in daily clinical practice

The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of primitive reflex es (PRs) as additional alert signs in a routine clinical setting of cogniti ve decline in an elderly population of chronic ischemic cerebrovascular pat ients. We considered the occurrence of grasp, palmomental, glabellar and sn out reflexes in 75 demented (VaD) and 75 non-demented (VaND) patients, and in 75 healthy elderly controls. We never elicited more than two PRs in cont rols. The occurrence of three or four PRs provided the strongest correlatio n with dementia (p < 0.0001), with 93% specificity irrespective of low sens itivity. In conclusion, the occurrence of more than two PRs might serve as an additional warning sign of possible mild cognitive impairment in chronic ischemic cerebrovascular patients, Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.