Applause sign: screening utility for dementia and cognitive impairment

Objective: To examine the diagnostic utility of applause sign scores for the diagnosis of dementia and mild cognitive impairment. Methods: Consecutive unselected new outpatient referrals to a dedicated cognitive disorders clinic over a 12-month period were administered the clapping test. Criterion diagnosis was by usual clinic assessment using standard diagnostic criteria, blind to applause sign score. Results: Applause sign scores differed significantly (p < 0.001) between diagnostic groups (dementia, mild cognitive impairment, subjective memory complaint) and did not correlate with other cognitive screening instrument scores. Nearly three-quarters of those with an abnormal score had cognitive impairment. Applause sign score was specific but not sensitive for a diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Conclusion: The applause sign supports a diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment in high prevalence settings and may be useful in conjunction with other cognitive screening tests.