Pilot of a New Cognitive Assessment Tool for Detecting Dementia in the Migrant Somali Population

Aims

• The investigators want to find out if the tool that they have made to assess memory and thinking in Somali elders ( the 'MSCAT') is acceptable to that community and practical to administer and score.
• The public will benefit from this research because it seeks to enhance reliability of diagnosis of dementia, thus access to support and treatment for people from an ethnic minority group experiencing memory problems.

Background

• The investigators are a group of staff from the Memory Assessment Service in Manchester. There are currently no suitable tests for dementia for people from Somalia.
• Research evidence tells us there are many reasons why the tools that used now are not working. This includes: differences in culture and ways of life that are very different to a British born person who has lived in the UK for all of their life.
• Somali people find out at a later stage if they have dementia resulting in delayed treatment/support.
• This research supports the government's promise to improve the pathway to a diagnosis of dementia for minority groups.

Design and methods

• 10 participants
• The investigators will compare the assessment tool (MSCAT) that the team have developed to the Addenbrookes Cognitive Examination III tool that is typically used.
• Participants will be seen at an agreed location (e.g. home, mosque or GMMH trust site). They will meet a Somali speaking researcher to do both tests on 2 appointments and discuss how they found the tests afterwards.
• The investigators will check participants understanding of the research before they agree to take part. Verbal and written information will be provided.

Public involvement

• The local Somali community helped advise on the creation of the new MSCAT assessment tool.
• The investigators will write project information for participants in Somali and English.

Dissemination of results

• Professional conference presentations and publications