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Objectives: To describe the psychometric properties of the Picture‐based Memory Impairment Screen (PMIS) in a multidisciplinary memory disorder center serving an ethnically and educationally diverse community. Design: Cross‐sectional cohort study. Setting: Montefiore Center for Aging Brain (CAB) Participants: Individuals with cognitive complaints (N=405; average age 76±10, 66% female). Measurements: A geriatrician or neurologist administered the PMIS, and a neuropsychologist administered the Blessed Information, Memory, and Concentration (BIMC) test and determined whether participants had dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or subjective cognitive complaints (SCC). Results: Mean PMIS scores were 4.0±2.6 in participants with dementia (n=194), 6.8±1.5 in those with MCI (n= 155), and 7.0±1.8 in those with SCC (n= 56) (p<.001). PMIS scores showed similar significant linear trends when analyzed according to ethnicity, education, sex, and language. The PMIS was negatively correlated with BIMC score (p<.001). The PMIS had positive predictive value of 77%, negative predictive value of 73%, sensitivity of 68%, and specificity of 81% to detect all‐cause dementia in this population of individuals with cognitive complaints. Conclusion: The PMIS is a quick, valid screening tool to identify cognitive impairment in individuals with cognitive complaints that accounts for cultural and educational differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Spinocerebellar ataxia 29 (SCA29) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder resulting in infantile-onset hypertonia, gross motor delay and cognitive impairment. SCA29 causes cerebellar dysfunction and atrophy manifested by poor hand coordination, instability of gait, impaired articulation, poor hand-eye coordination, language delay, and a wide legged, unsteady walk. Slow improvement across childhood is common, but the limited available research suggests significant clinical heterogeneity among individuals diagnosed with SCA29. We report the case of a six-year-old first grade girl to highlight the cognitive profile of SCA29 and determine its consistency with the literature. Methods Full neuropsychological evaluation was conducted, including examination of overall cognitive ability, academic achievement, and behavior. Results The patient demonstrated delayed cognitive and motor skills, slow processing, reduced reading fluency, and weak reading comprehension. Impaired verbal comprehension and limited fund of knowledge was seen. Working memory and visual spatial ability were relative individual strengths, though normatively weak. Untimed and non-motor academic skills were well below peers. Performances met criteria for ADHD and Language Disorder. Conclusion Six-year-old girl with SCA29 with expected motor difficulties including gross motor delay, hypotonia, ataxia, poor ocular fixation evidenced global impairments with expected weakness with verbal comprehension and receptive language skills. This is consistent with the findings in the SCA29 literature. Comorbid diagnoses of ADHD and Language Disorder were present. Given clinical heterogeneity, this case serves to expand existing knowledge on case variability, and adds the consideration of wider comorbidities in this rare condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]