Usefulness of a novel higher brain dysfunction screening test for evaluating higher brain function in healthy persons

To accurately and rapidly screen for higher brain dysfunction, we developed a screening test named the “higher brain dysfunction screening test” (HIBRID-ST). Previous studies have reported a decrease in higher brain function with age. However, whether HIBRID-ST can detect a decrease in higher brain function in healthy persons remains unclear.We aimed to assess the usefulness of HIBRID-ST for evaluating higher brain function in healthy persons. We recruited 60 persons without physiological abnormalities and divided them into six equal groups based on their age (20s−70s). HIBRID-ST addresses orientation, short-term memory, word recall, situational awareness, visual short-term memory, and graphic replication and includes the Trail Making and Kanahiroi tests. There was a significant negative correlation between the participants’ age and their total HIBRID-ST score (ρ= −0.68, p<0.01). The total HIBRID-ST score of participants in their 70s was significantly lower than that of participants in their 20s−60s ; the total HIBRID-ST score of participants in their 60s was significantly lower than that of participants in their 20s−50s. Our findings show that HIBRID-ST accurately detects an age-related decline in higher brain function. Further studies are needed to examine the usefulness of HIBRID-ST in patients with higher brain dysfunction.