B – 96 A Novel Cognitive Stress Paradigm Effectively Differentiates Amnestic MCI and PreMCI From Cognitively Unimpaired Controls

Abstract Objective The Brief Narrative Retention Test (B-NRAT) is a novel computerized test designed to assess memory for personal narratives in an engaging format. This study examined whether the B-NRAT could differentiate older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and preclinical cognitive decline (PreMCI) from cognitively unimpaired (CU) controls. Method Seventy older adults (Mean age = 73.2, SD = 6.2) participated, including individuals diagnosed with aMCI (n = 19), PreMCI (n = 21), and CU controls (n = 30). Diagnostic classifications were based on Uniform Data Set (UDS) criteria and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). Participants listened to a brief narrative and were prompted to recall gist and specific details. Delayed recall scores were collected. Group differences were analyzed after adjusting for Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores and sex, followed by Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) to evaluate pairwise differences. Results No statistically significant differences were found for age, educational attainment, or primary language (77.1% tested in English). aMCI groups (Mean = 27.39; SD = 1.9) demonstrated lower MMSE scores than PreMCI (Mean = 28.80; SD = 1.3) and CU groups (Mean = 29.19; SD = 1.3). Females comprised 25% of the aMCI group, 71% of PreMCI, and 81.3% of CU. After adjusting for MMSE scores and sex, total B-NRAT recall was significant (p<.01). Post hoc tests indicated PreMCI (Mean=7.81; SD=2.8) and aMCI (Mean=7.63; SD=3.0) scored lower than CU participants (Mean=11.33; SD=2.8) on B-NRAT recall. Conclusion Results suggest B-NRAT effectively differentiates mild and subtle cognitive impairments from normal cognition, offering a salient tool for aging populations.