Can caregivers independently rate cognitive and behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's disease patients? A longitudinal analysis

Author(s): Olin, J. T., Schneider, L. S.

Journal/Book: Amer J Geriatr Psychiatr. 1999; 7: 1400 K St N W, Ste 1101, Washington, DC 20005, USA. Amer Psychiatric Press, Inc. 321-330.

Abstract: To examine whether informant-based assessments of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) can be used longitudinally to track patient functioning, the authors followed AD patients (N = 153) and their caregivers over 1 year with the Relative's Assessment of Global Symptomatology-Elderly (RAGS-E) and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADASc). Factor analysis of the RAGS-E yielded two subscales, Cognitive Functioning and Mood Disturbance. The cognitive subscale and ADASc correlated at all visits, whereas the mood subscale did not. After 12 months (n = 62), the cognitive scale worsened at a rate similar to the ADASc, suggesting concurrent validity. Therefore, informant-based measures appear to be reliable and valid methods of identifying cognitive change in AD patients.

Note: Article Ippen CG, Care of Olin T Jason, USC, Geriatr Studies Clin, 1975 Zonal Ave, KAM-400, Los Angeles,CA 90033 USA

Keyword(s): DOUBLE-BLIND; ASSESSMENT SCALE; RATING-SCALE; DEMENTIA; MEMORY; PREDICTORS; RELATIVES; VALIDITY; TACRINE; TRIAL

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