Table 2

Description of the battery of instruments used for the comprehensive neuropsychological assessment*

Instrument	Description	Cognitive domains/function	Score
SMC45 46	A 10-item scale regarding subjective memory complaints.	Subjective memory.	Range: 0–21
SMC45 46	A 10-item scale regarding subjective memory complaints.	Subjective memory.	Higher scores reflect maximal memory complaints.
Phonemic Verbal Fluency47 48	A test consisting of three trials of 1 min each where participants are asked to produce orally as many words as possible beginning with a specific letter.	Executive function; language; semantic memory.	The total trial score corresponds to the no of words correctly produced within 1 min. The total test score corresponds to the sum of the three trials.
Phonemic Verbal Fluency47 48		Executive function; language; semantic memory.	Higher scores correspond to better performance.
18-point CDT49–51	An 18-point clock-drawing scoring system where participants are asked to draw a big circle and put the numbers of the clock, and then they were asked to indicate the time as ‘10 past 11’.	Visuospatial; executive function.	Range: 0–18
18-point CDT49–51		Visuospatial; executive function.	Scoring system with three main components: (1) assessment of circle integrity (two points); (2) number placement and sequencing (six points) and (3) placement and size of the hands (six points). Additionally, there are two points for representation of the clock’s centre and two points for general gestalt.
TMT52 53	Part A: participants are asked to draw lines to connect 25 randomly positioned numbered circles in numeric order as quickly as possible.	Part A: attention; visual scanning and speed of eye-hand coordination and information processing.	Direct measures of performance: time (seconds) to complete part A and part B, and performance errors during part A and part B.
	Part B: participants are asked to draw lines to connect circles in numeric and alphabetic order as quickly as possible, alternating between numbers and letters (progressively up to number 13).	Part B: working memory and executive functions; particularly, the ability to switch between sets of stimuli.	Derived scores: difference score (B−A), ratio score (B/A), proportion score (B−A/A), sum score (A+B), and multiplication score (A×B/100).
			Lower raw scores and higher adjusted scores correspond to better performance.
WMS-III54 55	Evaluates memory and attention functions using both auditory and visual stimuli.	Verbal and visual memories; working memory.	Range:
			Immediate recall: 0–50
	A test composed of 17 subtests designed to measure different memory functions in a person with the aim of detecting and discriminating between subcortical vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.		Delayed recall: 0–50
			Auditory recognition: 0–30
			Visual reproduction: 0–104
			Digit span: 0–30
	Subtests used: Logical Memory I, II; Visual Reproduction I, II; Digit Span.		Higher scores correspond to better performance.
WAIS-III56 57	Measures intelligence and cognitive ability in adults and older adolescents.	Attention/concentration; executive function (sequencing); motor function; processing speed.	The number of correct symbols within the allowed time (120 s) is measured.
WAIS-III56 57	Subtests used: Digit-Symbol-Coding, which consists of digit-symbol pairs followed by a list of digits and under each digit participants write down the corresponding symbol as fast as possible; and Symbol Search, in which, participants are asked to look at two groups of symbols and to indicate if any of the symbols of the first group are present in the other group.
Stroop Test58 59	Assesses the ability to inhibit cognitive interference, which occurs when the processing of a stimulus feature affects the simultaneous processing of another attribute of the same stimulus.	Executive functions (inhibitory control); selective attention.	Scores for each trial indicate the number of correct responses. An interference score can be generated that quantifies the participant’s ability to inhibit the inappropriate response of reading the colour name as opposed to the colour of the ink used to print the colour name in the third trial.
Stroop Test58 59	This test has three trials: (1) the participant is required to read the colour names printed in black ink as quickly as possible; (2) the participant is required to name the colour of coloured dots as quickly as possible; (3) the participant is required to name the colour of the ink of the colour name words (the colour name does not match the colour of the ink).
Token Test-short form60	A test designed to assess the comprehension of commands that vary in degree of linguistic difficulty but which are relatively independent of defects in other aspects of intellectual capacity such as memory and vocabulary.	Attention and vigilance; verbal functions.	Range: 0–36 Higher scores correspond to better performance.
Token Test-short form60	The test consists of six subsections that represent different levels of linguistic difficulty. The participant is presented with tokens of different shapes (ie, circles, squares, triangles), sizes, and colours, and is required to perform certain acts with the tokens, such as point to selected tokens, touch them, pick them up and place one token on top of another.	Attention and vigilance; verbal functions.	Range: 0–36 Higher scores correspond to better performance.
SDMT61	A quick screening test for organic cerebral dysfunction.	Organic cerebral dysfunction.	Individuals with cerebral dysfunction perform poorly.
SDMT61	The test involves a simple substitution task that can be easily performed: using a reference key, the participant has 90 s to pair specific numbers with given geometric figures.	Organic cerebral dysfunction.	Individuals with cerebral dysfunction perform poorly.
TeLPI62	A Portuguese irregular word reading test using 46 irregular, infrequent Portuguese words designed to assess premorbid intelligence.	Premorbid IQ: full scale IQ; Verbal IQ; Performance IQ	Range: number of errors (maximum of 46) and years of education are inserted in three linear equations to calculate the three types of IQ
BDI-II63 64	A 21 question measure assessing the presence of depressive symptoms experienced by the participant within the past week.	Emotional functioning.	Range: 0–63
BDI-II63 64		Emotional functioning.	A cut-off score indicative of mild depressive symptoms is greater than 10 and for severe depressive symptoms is greater than 30.
Barthel ADL Index65 66	An index to measure functional disability, focused on bodily oriented personal care.	Functional domains: feeding; incontinence; transferring; toileting; dressing; bathing.	Range: 0–100
Barthel ADL Index65 66			Lower scores reflect increased disability.
IADL67 68	An eight item scale used to assess independent living skills which include more complex activities (ie, ‘instrumental activities of daily living’) necessary for functioning in community settings.	Functional domains: using the telephone; shopping; food preparation; housekeeping; laundry; transport; medication; finances.	Range: 0–8
IADL67 68			Higher scores reflect high function, independence.

*Only patients who score below 1.5 SD of age-adjusted and education-adjusted cut-offs at the Montreal Cognitive Assessment during each evaluation (baseline, and 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 years of follow-up) and a random sample of 30 participants will be invited for a neuropsychological evaluation.
Barthel ADL Index, Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index; BDI-II, Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition; CDT, Clock Drawing Test; IADL, Lawton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living; SDMT, Symbol and Digit Modalities Test; SMC, Subjective Memory Complains scale; TeLPI, Irregular Word Reading Test; TMT, Trail Making Test; WAIS-III, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition; WMS-III, Wechsler Memory Scale-Third Edition.