Type Memory tools Headquarters Simpsonville, Maryland | Founder Dr. William Mansbach Website www.thebcat.com | |
Industry Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, Home Health Care, Rehabilitation Therapy, Primary Care, and Mental Health |
The Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool (BCAT®) is a cognitive test designed and copywrited by Dr. William Mansbach to identify patients with and without dementia, and to be sensitive to different levels of cognitive impairment. It was designed as a multi-domain cognitive instrument that assesses orientation, verbal recall, visual recognition, visual recall, attention, abstraction, language, executive functions, and visuo-spatial processing.
Contents
- Background
- The BCAT Validation Study
- The BCAT Approach
- The BCAT Test System
- The BCAT Interventions
- The BCAT Brain Rehabilitation
- MemPics Book Series
- The BCAT Working Memory Exercise Book
- References
The Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool is the primary test of the BCAT Test System, which consists of four other unique assessment instruments. Test scores can be used to guide the use of the BCAT Interventions designed to enhance cognition, promote independence, and provide meaningful engagement for those with memory loss. The integration of these assessments instruments, cognitive rehabilitation, and working memory exercises represent the The BCAT Approach.
Background
Cognitive functioning among older adults has become an important focus among clinicians and policy analysts. The increasing longevity of older adults, especially those in the "old-old" category, has been well documented. Epidemiological studies show that incidence and prevalence rates of dementia increase in line with continued increases in life expectancy. It is estimated that more than 5 million Americans over the age of 65 have Alzheimer's Disease (AD). This number is projected to nearly triple by 2050.
While no clear preventive or curative interventions for Alzheimer’s disease are available, early detection may improve quality of life for patients and their families. Furthermore, effective screening may aid in the development of intervention strategies that delay the insidiousness of the disease as well as nursing facility placement. Early detection may enhance the efficacy of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments.
A number of screening measures have been developed since the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was published in 1975. Examples include the Short Test of Mental Status (STMS), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the St. Louis University Mental Status Examination (SLUMS), and Addenbrooke's cognitive examination (ACE).
While each of these instruments identifies individuals with probable dementia, they lack specific integration of three critical neuro-cognitive clusters (contextual memory, executive functions, and attentional capacity) as predictors of cognitive functioning and performance of everyday activities of independent living. The Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool was designed to overcome this and other measurement issues.
The BCAT Validation Study
In the original Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool validation study, a total of 104 older adults referred for neuropsychological evaluation were recruited from assisted-living facilities. Psychometric analyses from this sample confirmed strong evidence for reliability, construct validity, and predictive validity for the Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool. Its utility for identifying dementia versus mild cognitive impairment was excellent, with a sensitivity of .99, a specificity of .77, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of .95. Executive control, contextual memory, and attentional capacity items were the best predictors of diagnostic category and of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL).
The BCAT Approach
The BCAT Approach is a unique applied concept for assessing and working with people who have memory and other cognitive impairments. The BCAT Approach integrates three distinct systems: The BCAT Test System, the BCAT Brain Rehabilitation Program, the BCAT Working Memory Exercise Book and the MemPics® Book Series. All of the assessment instruments and interventions included in the BCAT Approach are interactive and available online
The BCAT Test System
The comprehensive BCAT Test System consists of five cognitive tools that healthcare professionals can use to assess cognitive and mood functioning. All of the assessment instruments can be downloaded or used as an online tool complete with scoring programs.
The BCAT Interventions
The BCAT Interventions consist of the BCAT Brain Rehabilitation, the MemPics® Book Series, and the BCAT Working Memory Exercise Book. They were designed to be used by clinicians in conjunction with the BCAT Test System. However, each of the BCAT Interventions can be used independently.
The BCAT Brain Rehabilitation
Brain rehabilitation is a loss and restoration process, based on cognitive exercises that promote brain cells (neurons) to improve functioning. It is based on the principles of neuroplasticity and cognitive reserve. Brain rehabilitation exercises can improve cognition and may protect against memory loss caused by brain diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.
The BCAT Brain Rehabilitation Program can be used as a cognitive rehabilitation program with the primary modules being online. They target attention, memory, and executive functions. It is intended for individuals with normal cognitive functioning, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), or mild dementia. Brain Rehabilitation is not suggested for persons with moderate to severe dementia.
In an efficacy study, participants with mild cognitive deficits who received the BCAT Brain Rehabilitation had significantly higher post-treatment cognitive functioning relative to control group participants over the same period.
Additional non-interactive brain fitness modules include Mazes, Word Searches, and Word Scrambles.
MemPics® Book Series
MemPics® is a book series activity program designed to meaningfully engage individuals with memory loss in fun and cognitively stimulating conversations. It is a verbally-based program that emphasizes conversation about familiar topics (people, places, objects, events) that are likely to be preserved in spite of cognitive impairments. MemPics has been found to promote significantly higher meaningful activity for long-term care residents with mild to moderate stage dementia compared to other recreation activities commonly available in long-term care facilities.
The BCAT Working Memory Exercise Book
The BCAT Working Memory Exercise Book consists of 15 exercises that target memory, attention, and executive functioning. It is designed for any clinical and residential setting in which cognitive functioning, independent living skills, and cognitive-communication are central issues. The Exercise Book is intended for professionals from numerous healthcare disciplines and patients who experience mild to moderate cognitive impairment and dementia caused by strokes; acquired brain injuries; or neuro-degenerative illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease.