In the occipital and parietal cortices [40]. Our data are similar to

In the occipital and parietal cortices [40]. Our data are similar to those reported by Lincoln et al. [20], who observed a significant difference in the performance of AD patients and controls on the Incomplete Title Loaded From File Letters and Cube Analysis subtests. Other studies that used the entire battery observed a significant impairment in the mild AD patients only on the Silhouettes subtest [17,21]. The subtests of the VOSP battery correlated significantly with the neuropsychological tests, such as the Raven and Boston tests, which are widely used in studies of cognitive evaluation in the elderly [41,42,43]. Both tests require an important visual component, which supports our observation that these functions appear to be compromised early in the course of the disease.TestsSpearman Correlation Rho value (N = 75)Incomplete LettersSilhouettes 0.579* 0.445 0.382 0.405 0.218 0.535* 0.518* 0.443 0.526* 0.439 0.352 0.694* 0.415 20.218 20.Object Decision 11967625 0.494 0.358 0.315 0.367 0.418 0.586* 0.474 20.369 20.Progressive Silhouettes 20.531* 20.324 20.365 20.387 20.422 20.572* 20.449 0.193 0.Number Location Cube Analysis 0.550* 0.403 0.338 0.600* 0.480 0.516* 0.461 20.267 20.241 0.600* 0.483 0.406 0.351 0.399 0.615* 0.429 20.513 20.Raven – colored version Rey Complex Figure – copy Clock Drawing Test Corsi – direct (span) Corsi – inverse (span) Boston Naming (15 items)Cancellation Task (number of correct) 0.368 Cancellation Task (number of errors) Cancellation task (time, seconds) *p,0.01. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068398.t005 20.378 20.Visuospatial Function in Early Alzheimer’s DiseaseThe purpose of the 23148522 VOSP is to assess visuospatial function, while minimizing the involvement of other cognitive functions. As shown here, almost all of the tests that assess visuospatial function require an additional function. We observed that certain subtests require additional knowledge. For example, the Silhouettes and Progressive Silhouettes subtests require Title Loaded From File semantic knowledge. The Incomplete Letters subtest supposes prior knowledge of the alphabetic letters. Thus, we can observe the interference, however small, of other skills in the VOSP. In Brazil, no studies have been conducted with this battery. Comparing the preliminary normative data from this population, we observed differences in the Silhouettes and Progressive Silhouettes subtest scores, with the Brazilian scores lower than those observed in the United States and London and closer to those observed in Spain. As we had a sample with a mean of eight years of schooling, we believe that these scores are appropriate without restrictions for this educational level. Regarding the educational level, we must note that subjects who are illiterate or have little education show significantly lower performance on cognitive assessment tests [44]. Ardila, Roselli and Rosas [45] noted that the performance levels on all evaluated visuospatial tasks differed significantly between illiterate and highly educated subjects. As in a previous survey conducted in the U.S. and one later in Spain, we observed that the educational level influenced theperformance on the Object Decision and Silhouettes subtests [19]. Age also proved to be an important factor that affected space and object perception [19]. Gender had no significant effect. Therefore, we propose the use of the scores obtained in this study for individuals with an age and education level that was compatible with those used in this sample. Given the above findings, we can say that vi.In the occipital and parietal cortices [40]. Our data are similar to those reported by Lincoln et al. [20], who observed a significant difference in the performance of AD patients and controls on the Incomplete Letters and Cube Analysis subtests. Other studies that used the entire battery observed a significant impairment in the mild AD patients only on the Silhouettes subtest [17,21]. The subtests of the VOSP battery correlated significantly with the neuropsychological tests, such as the Raven and Boston tests, which are widely used in studies of cognitive evaluation in the elderly [41,42,43]. Both tests require an important visual component, which supports our observation that these functions appear to be compromised early in the course of the disease.TestsSpearman Correlation Rho value (N = 75)Incomplete LettersSilhouettes 0.579* 0.445 0.382 0.405 0.218 0.535* 0.518* 0.443 0.526* 0.439 0.352 0.694* 0.415 20.218 20.Object Decision 11967625 0.494 0.358 0.315 0.367 0.418 0.586* 0.474 20.369 20.Progressive Silhouettes 20.531* 20.324 20.365 20.387 20.422 20.572* 20.449 0.193 0.Number Location Cube Analysis 0.550* 0.403 0.338 0.600* 0.480 0.516* 0.461 20.267 20.241 0.600* 0.483 0.406 0.351 0.399 0.615* 0.429 20.513 20.Raven – colored version Rey Complex Figure – copy Clock Drawing Test Corsi – direct (span) Corsi – inverse (span) Boston Naming (15 items)Cancellation Task (number of correct) 0.368 Cancellation Task (number of errors) Cancellation task (time, seconds) *p,0.01. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068398.t005 20.378 20.Visuospatial Function in Early Alzheimer’s DiseaseThe purpose of the 23148522 VOSP is to assess visuospatial function, while minimizing the involvement of other cognitive functions. As shown here, almost all of the tests that assess visuospatial function require an additional function. We observed that certain subtests require additional knowledge. For example, the Silhouettes and Progressive Silhouettes subtests require semantic knowledge. The Incomplete Letters subtest supposes prior knowledge of the alphabetic letters. Thus, we can observe the interference, however small, of other skills in the VOSP. In Brazil, no studies have been conducted with this battery. Comparing the preliminary normative data from this population, we observed differences in the Silhouettes and Progressive Silhouettes subtest scores, with the Brazilian scores lower than those observed in the United States and London and closer to those observed in Spain. As we had a sample with a mean of eight years of schooling, we believe that these scores are appropriate without restrictions for this educational level. Regarding the educational level, we must note that subjects who are illiterate or have little education show significantly lower performance on cognitive assessment tests [44]. Ardila, Roselli and Rosas [45] noted that the performance levels on all evaluated visuospatial tasks differed significantly between illiterate and highly educated subjects. As in a previous survey conducted in the U.S. and one later in Spain, we observed that the educational level influenced theperformance on the Object Decision and Silhouettes subtests [19]. Age also proved to be an important factor that affected space and object perception [19]. Gender had no significant effect. Therefore, we propose the use of the scores obtained in this study for individuals with an age and education level that was compatible with those used in this sample. Given the above findings, we can say that vi.