The ideal characteristics of a screening test include sufficient sensitivity to detect potential cases and that it should be easily accessible and simple to administer. This further adds to the potential utility of a screening tool as a first step to identify patients who may benefit from comprehensive cognitive testing.
Neuropsychological assessments themselves are time-consuming, and are expensive for routine use, because these services are often not covered by healthcare benefits or insurance. 4 5 Although the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction in SLE remains poorly understood, early detection and recognition of cognitive changes may help us develop strategies that improve patients’ quality of life.įormal evaluation by a clinical neuropsychologist including cognitive testing remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of cognitive impairment, but is not practical for use on a routine basis in the SLE clinical care setting. Many patients with SLE report cognitive dysfunction as one of the most distressing symptoms of their condition, 2 3 adversely impacting function and employment. 1 Cognitive dysfunction is common in SLE and can present insidiously. SLE is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease associated with significant morbidity and reduced life expectancy.
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