The Clock Drawing Test as a Mass Screening Tool for Detecting Cognitive Impairment in Community-Dwelling Elderly

Abstract

India's elderly population is growing rapidly, projected to double by 2050. This demographic transition brings an urgent need for accessible cognitive screening tools. The Clock Drawing Test (CDT) is a simple, quick, and effective assessment that could serve as a primary cognitive screening tool in community settings, especially where time, resources, and trained professionals are limited. This study investigates the correlation between CDT and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), exploring CDT's potential to act as a standalone screening measure. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 68 community-dwelling elderly participants aged above 60 years who were literate in English or Kannada. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s rho to evaluate the strength of correlation between CDT and MoCA scores. The results showed a significant moderate correlation (r = 0.5286, p < 0.001), supporting the use of CDT as an initial cognitive screening tool. CDT offers practicality and adaptability, especially in large-scale public health initiatives. This manuscript explores the findings, discusses the implications in the Indian context, and recommends further research to establish standard guidelines for its use in geriatric care.