ABSTRACT
Background: Verbal learning test is useful and significant test to evaluating memory function. There were many memory tests but few for elderly and dementia patients. Although there have been a variety of Korean memory tests developed, these tests were difficult to administer to dementia patients and elderly individuals with low educational levels. Therefore, we developed the Korean Memory Test (KMT). Methods: The KMT task consists of three trials of free recall of 10 simplified line drawing figures of familiar materials. Three immediate recall trials and one 20 minutes delayed recall and one recognition trial were administered. Sixty-five of probable Alzheimer's patients received the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Korean version of expanded Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) and KMT. Also sixty-seven of normal controls were enrolled. We tested reliability and validity of the KMT and also evaluated scores of the KMT with progression of dementia. Results: The parameters of the KMT correlated with CDR -0.74~-0.77 (p<0.01), K-MMSE 0.66~0.68 (p<0.01). The internal consis- tency was 0.78 (Cronbach's alpha). Most of the KMT's parameters decreased with CDR significantly (p<0.01). Conclusions: The KMT is a good test for evaluating memory function of elderly with low educational level. Also it is a sensitive and specific test to detection of dementia in early stage and has excellent reliability and validity.