Objective: The immediate copy of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) is considered a visuo-spatial test. However, reproducing this complex structure possibly involves also executive functions, such as planning and organizational strategies. In a previous study, we found a high rate of impaired performances in this test in a sample of subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment patients. Executive functions contribution in the immediate copy of the ROCF can be assessed with the Boston Qualitative Scoring System (BQSS). We aimed at examining whether BQSS executive scores of ROCF immediate copy: (1) differ between vascular (v-MCI) and degenerative MCI (d-MCI) patients; (2) can at least partly explain the high rate of abnormal ROCF immediate copy performances in v-MCI patients.
Method: Thirty d-MCI patients (age 75.2 ± 4.4) and 27 v-MCI (age 73.2 ± 6.9) were enrolled. The performances of patients were scored using the BQSS executive scores (Fragmentation, Planning, Organization, Perseveration) during the accomplishment of ROCF immediate copy.
Results: Comparing d-MCI and v-MCI performances, d-MCI patients scored worse on ROCF delayed recall (9.9 ± 4.7 vs. 13.4 ± 5.9, p = .020) and MMSE (23.9 ± 2.6 vs. 27.8 ± 2.3, p = .001) while v-MCI patients had more frequently impaired performances in ROCF immediate copy (40% vs. 81%, p = .001) and showed worse scores on Fragmentation (2.4 ± 0.9 vs. 1.8 ± 1.3, p = .035), Planning (2.4 ± 0.8 vs. 1.8 ± 1, p = .039), Organization (4.8 ± 1.3 vs. 3.6 ± 2.1, p = .017), and Perseveration (3.5 ± 0.8 vs. 2.9 ± 1.2, p = .048).
Conclusions: The performance of v-MCI patients in ROCF immediate copy seemed to be more affected by executive dysfunction than the performance obtained by d-MCI. When analyzing ROCF performances, a qualitative approach allows to evaluate patients' strategies during the reproduction, and thus to discriminate between executive and visuo-constructional abilities.