G GERONTOL 2012;60:134-141 Introduction. The main aims of the study were the translation into Italian, and validation subsequently of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R), and the evaluation of its usefulness in discriminating cognitively nor- mal subjects from patients with mild dementia. Methods. The ACE-R was translated and adapted into Italian. The Italian ACE-R was administrated to a group of 179 elderly subjects (72 cognitively intact and 107 subjects with mild dementia, mean age 75.4 years ± 6.4). The group was stra- tified in two sub-samples according to age, i.e. young-old (< 75 years) and old-old (≥ 75 years), in order to evaluate test’s sensitivity and specificity in detecting dementia among elderly of different age. Results. The reliability of the Italian ACE-R was excellent (alpha coefficient = 0.85). Two different cut-offs were identified for young-old (cut-off 79; sensitivity 90% and specificity 80%); and old-old subjects (cut-off 60; sensitivity 82% and specificity 100%). Discussion. The Italian ACE-R is a valid screening tool to detect dementia. This is true especially among the old-old individuals, the fastest growing age group and the one at the highest risk of dementia in western countries. Key words: Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination • Elderly • Dementia • Cogni- tive assessment • Young-old • Old-old ARTICOLO ORIGINALE ORIGINAL ARTICLE Sezione di Geriatria Clinica Studio di validazione dell’ACE-R in lingua italiana nella popolazione degli young-old e degli old-old Validation study of the Italian Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised in a young-old and old-old population M. PIGLIAUTILE 1 , M. RICCI 1 2 3 , S. ERCOLANI 1 , R. RADICCHI 1 , F. MANGIALASCHE 1 , R. MONASTERO 4 , M.F. CROCE 1 , S. FEDERICI 5 , E. MIOSHI 6 , P. MECOCCI 1 1 Istituto di Gerontologia e Geriatria, Università di Perugia; 2 Dipartimento di Neurologia, Ospe- dale “Regina Apostolorum”, Roma; 3 Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science, Macquarie Univer- sity, Sydney, N.S.W. (Australia); 4 Sezione di Neurologia, Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimen- tale e Neuroscienza Clinica, Università di Palermo; 5 Dipartimento di Scienza dell’Educazione, Università di Perugia; 6 Neuroscience Research Australia and University of New South Wales, Sydney, N.S.W. (Australia) ■ Ringraziamenti: Siamo grati ai geriatri e agli specializzandi che lavorano presso l’Istituto di Gerontologia e Geriatria dell’Università di Perugia (Italia). Ringraziamo inoltre il Professor J.R. Hodges per il suo supporto. ■ Arrivato in Redazione il 21/11/2011. Accettato il 23/12/2011. ■ Corrispondenza: Patrizia Mecocci, Istituto di Gerontologia e Geriatria, Dipartimento di Medi- cina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Perugia, Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia, blocco C, piano 4, S. Andrea delle Fratte, 06156 Perugia - Tel. +39 075 578 3270 - E-mail: mecocci@unipg.it Società Italiana di Gerontologia e Geriatria PACINI EDITORE MEDICINA