A Delphi Study to Define & Measure Objective Subtle Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s

Kiselica, AM, Amon, K, Anthos, ZR, Duff, K, Gavnor, L, Edmonds, EC, Franzen, S, Bruno, D ORCID: 0000-0003-1943-9905, Thomas, KR, Atkins, KJ, Balutansky, K, Fowler, A, Thompson, L, Chang, YL, Jutten, RJ, Hammers, DB, Padilla, C, Jurado, MB and Lim, YY A Delphi Study to Define & Measure Objective Subtle Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer's and Dementia. ISSN 1552-5260 (Accepted)

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Objectively identifiable cognitive decline that does not rise to impairment may be one of the earliest clinical stages of Alzheimer's disease, but there is a lack of agreement on nomenclature and measurement strategies to define it.

METHODS: We conducted a Delphi consensus study among 52 international experts.

RESULTS: “Objective subtle cognitive decline” (Obj-SCD) narrowly reached the threshold for consensus (75% agreement) as the most appropriate term. There was consensus against using cognitive screeners and interview-based approaches to operationalize Obj-SCD and agreement that intraindividual variability measures lack sufficient empirical support. There was no consensus on a favored approach; nonetheless, approaches based on patterns of low scores or cutoffs on a cognitive composite received strong support. DISCUSSION: Obj-SCD is the preferred term for objectively identifiable cognitive decline that does not rise to the level of impairment. More research is needed to identify the optimal ways to operationalize this construct.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1103 Clinical Sciences; 1109 Neurosciences; Geriatrics; 3202 Clinical sciences; 3209 Neurosciences; 5202 Biological psychology
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	15 October 2026
Date Deposited:	19 Oct 2026 13:11
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2026 13:11
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29704

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