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Objective The immediate copy of the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) is considered a visuo-spatial test. However, reproducing this complex structure possibly involves also executive functions, such as planning and organizational strategies. In a previous study, we found a high rate of impaired performances in this test in a sample of subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment patients. Executive functions contribution in the immediate copy of the ROCF can be assessed with the Boston Qualitative Scoring System (BQSS). We aimed at examining whether BQSS executive scores of ROCF immediate copy: (1) differ between vascular (v-MCI) and degenerative MCI (d-MCI) patients; (2) can at least partly explain the high rate of abnormal ROCF immediate copy performances in v-MCI patients. Method Thirty d-MCI patients (age 75.2 ± 4.4) and 27 v-MCI (age 73.2 ± 6.9) were enrolled. The performances of patients were scored using the BQSS executive scores (Fragmentation, Planning, Organization, Perseveration) during the accomplishment of ROCF immediate copy. Results Comparing d-MCI and v-MCI performances, d-MCI patients scored worse on ROCF delayed recall (9.9 ± 4.7 vs. 13.4 ± 5.9, p =.020) and MMSE (23.9 ± 2.6 vs. 27.8 ± 2.3, p =.001) while v-MCI patients had more frequently impaired performances in ROCF immediate copy (40% vs. 81%, p =.001) and showed worse scores on Fragmentation (2.4 ± 0.9 vs. 1.8 ± 1.3, p =.035), Planning (2.4 ± 0.8 vs. 1.8 ± 1, p =.039), Organization (4.8 ± 1.3 vs. 3.6 ± 2.1, p =.017), and Perseveration (3.5 ± 0.8 vs. 2.9 ± 1.2, p =.048). Conclusions The performance of v-MCI patients in ROCF immediate copy seemed to be more affected by executive dysfunction than the performance obtained by d-MCI. When analyzing ROCF performances, a qualitative approach allows to evaluate patients' strategies during the reproduction, and thus to discriminate between executive and visuo-constructional abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of treatment with different cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) on mental status and every day function in a natural outpatient clinic setting, so that this evaluation could more realistically reveal the effects which are likely to be observed in patients attending ordinary dementia clinics rather than in the context of a randomised controlled drug trial., Methods: Long term outcome of treatment with the ChEIs donepezil and rivastigmine was retrospectively evaluated in 147 patients with a clinical diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease of mild to moderate level of severity who had been monitored for a period of nine months. Measures included Mini Mental State Examination, Activity of Daily Living and Instrumental Activity of Daily Living scales., Results: Response rate was similar to that of other published clinical trials on ChEIs. Patients who responded well to treatment with ChEIs better maintained their improved performance., Conclusions: Treatment with both ChEIs resulted in improved performance in those patients responding to therapy. Greater response was observed in previously untreated patients who had a shorter disease history but overall the findings in this unselected clinical sample confirmed that patients gain some benefit from intervention with ChEI treatment.