Italian Validation of the dNA Scale and Its Correlation With Neurocognitive Variables

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria (Stage #1):
* Individuals aged ≥ 65 years residing in Italy;
* Cognitively healthy individuals (HC);
* Individuals with subjective memory complaints (SMC);
* Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI);
* Individuals with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Inclusion criteria (Stage #2 \& Stage #3):
* Individuals aged ≥ 65 years residing in Italy;
* Cognitively healthy individuals (HC);
* Individuals with subjective memory complaints (SMC);
* Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI);
* Individuals with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD);
* Individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia;
* Individuals suffering from mental disorders clinically diagnosed.
Cognitively healthy individuals (HC):
* MMSE score ≥24, or alternatively MoCA score ≥26;
* No diagnosis of depression, MCI or any form of dementia;
* Episodic memory performance within the normal range (Wechsler Memory Scale Logical Memory II ≥9 for 16 years of schooling or more; ≥5 for 8-15 years of schooling, ≥3 for 0-7 years of schooling; or alternatively for Prose Memory Test with scores ≥9 for ≥16 years of schooling → ≥5 items in immediate or delayed recall; ≥5 for 8-15 years of schooling → ≥3-4 items in immediate or delayed recall; ≥3 for 0-7 years of schooling → ≥2 items in immediate or delayed recall)
Individuals with Subjective Memory Complaints (SMC):
* MMSE score ≥24, or alternatively MoCA score ≥26;
* A significant memory impairment, reported by the subject, a family member, or the clinician;
* No diagnosis of depression, MCI or any form of dementia;
* Episodic memory performance within the normal range on the Wechsler Memory Scale Logical Memory II adjusted for years of schooling (≥9 for 16+ years of schooling, ≥5 for 8-15 years of schooling, ≥3 for 0-7 years of schooling) or, alternatively, on the Prose Memory Test (with scores ≥9 for ≥16 years of schooling → ≥5 items in immediate or delayed recall; ≥5 for 8-15 years of schooling → ≥3-4 items in immediate or delayed recall; ≥3 for 0-7 years of schooling → ≥2 items in immediate or delayed recall)
Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI):
* MMSE score between 19 and 23 inclusive (alternatively MoCA);
* A decline in memory reported by the subject, a family member, or the clinician;
* No diagnosis of depression or affected by any form of dementia, with preserved ability in activities of daily living;
* Objective episodic memory loss on the Wechsler Memory Scale Logical Memory II adjusted for years of schooling.
Individuals with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD):
* Insidious onset with atypical course: some criteria for probable AD are met, but the onset of symptoms may have been sudden, or there is a lack of objective evidence of progressive cognitive decline;
* Mixed etiology presentation: All criteria for probable AD are met, with concomitant cerebrovascular disorders, or the presence of features typical of another dementia or the evidence of other neurological disorders or non-neurological comorbidities;
* A decline in performance compared to the previous level of functioning is evident, as also described by a caregiver (often a family member)
* Onset with memory disturbances, defined as difficulty learning new information or recalling it;
* Onset with non-mnemonic symptoms (language symptoms, particularly difficulty finding the correct words; visuospatial symptoms: perceptual deficits characterized by failure to recognize objects, people, or written words; executive symptoms: difficulties with reasoning and critical thinking);
* MMSE score \< 23 (alternatively MoCA \< 25);
* Objective episodic memory loss on the Wechsler Memory Scale Logical Memory II adjusted for years of schooling.
Exclusion criteria (Stage #1):
* Individuals aged \< 65 years;
* Individuals not residing in Italy;
* Individuals with depression or other psychiatric disorders;
* Individuals with forms of dementia other than Alzheimer's disease.

The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.

Eligibility criteria as of 2026-06-11