Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41731191›Full record

Observational studyNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2026

Culturally and linguistically diverse patients in an Italian memory clinic: lessons learned from the ImmiDem project.

I Cova, G Maestri, A Nicotra, A Forgione, L Maggiore, A Acampora, M Canevelli, N Vanacore, L Pantoni, S Pomati

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

I CovaNeurology Unit, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy. ilaria.cova@unimi.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7831-6791
G MaestriNeurology Unit, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy.
A NicotraNeurology Unit, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy.
A ForgioneNeurology Unit, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy.
L MaggioreNeurology Unit, Luigi Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy.
A AcamporaDepartment of Epidemiology, Regional Health Service, Lazio Region, Rome, Italy.
M CanevelliDepartment of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
N VanacoreNational Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
L PantoniDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
S PomatiIstituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIncreasing migration and population ageing pose growing challenges for dementia diagnosis in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations. This study evaluated changes in diagnostic practices in an Italian Centre for Cognitive Disorders and Dementia following implementation of the ImmiDem project and culturally adapted cognitive tools.

methodsA retrospective observational study was conducted including all CALD patients assessed between 2016 and 2024. Collected data included demographic and linguistic characteristics, country of origin, type of cognitive assessment, and use of standard versus cross-cultural tools. Diagnostic practices were compared between T1 (2016-2020) and T2 (2021-2024), corresponding to ImmiDem implementation.

resultsA total of 163 CALD patients (4.2% of referrals) were identified, with a marked increase in T2 (+ 180%). Mean age was 65.2 ± 13.8 years; 35.2% had low education. Patients originated from 46 countries and spoke 26 languages, with no significant demographic differences between T1 and T2. Cognitive screening was performed in 81.6% and extensive testing in 33.1%. Use of cultural mediators and cross-cultural tools rose significantly in T2. Importantly, diagnoses in T2 more frequently involved milder cognitive impairment, likely reflecting earlier referral and the increasing use of more sensitive cross-cultural cognitive assessment tools. The Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) showed weaker correlations with age and education than the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with generally good concordance across tools.

conclusionsReferrals of CALD patients increased substantially, with earlier detection of cognitive impairment and wider use of culturally appropriate assessment. Persistent gaps in validated tools and cultural competence highlight the need for further multicentre prospective studies to support equitable diagnostic practices.

Indexed as

Cultural DiversityDementiaAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansItalyMaleMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsRetrospective StudiesAwarenessCognitive assessmentCross-culturalDiversityEpidemiologyInequalities

Identifiers

PMID41731191
PMCPMC12929322

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.