The AD8: a brief informant interview to detect dementia

Validity and reliability of the Korean version of the AD8 informant interview (K-AD8) in dementia

The Alzheimer disease 8 (AD8) is a brief informant-based measure that distinguishes individuals with very mild dementia and mild cognitive impairment from those with normal cognition. The aim of this study was to establish the validity, reliability, and discriminative properties of the Korean version of the AD8 (K-AD8). Evaluation was made on 155 patient-informant dyads. The K-AD8 scores with the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and performance on neuropsychologic tests were compared. Internal consistency of the K-AD8 was significant (Cronbach alpha=0.88). The K-AD8 had strong correlation with CDR (Spearman rho=0.76). Concurrent validity was strong with the K-AD8 scores correlating with CDR domains and performance on neuropsychologic tests. The K-AD8 was found to have excellent test-retest reliability (weighted kappa=0.81) and good interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.89). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.88, suggesting good discrimination between nondemented individuals and those with cognitive impairment. To distinguish CDR 0.5 from CDR 0, in particular, the K-AD8 (cutoff score of 2) had a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 90%. In conclusion, the K-AD8 is a sensitive screening tool in detecting very early dementia, indicating that the AD8 could work very well in a variety of cultural entities.

Post-Mortem diagnosis of dementia by informant interview

The diagnosis of normal cognition or dementia in the Brazilian Brain Bank of the Aging Brain Study Group (BBBABSG) has relied on postmortem interview with an informant.

OBJECTIVES

To ascertain the sensitivity and specificity of postmortem diagnosis based on informant interview compared against the diagnosis established at a memory clinic.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted at the BBBABSG and at the Reference Center for Cognitive Disorders (RCCD), a specialized memory clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo Medical School. Control subjects and cognitively impaired subjects were referred from the Hospital das Clínicas to the RCCD where subjects and their informants were assessed. The same informant was then interviewed at the BBBABSG. Specialists' panel consensus, in each group, determined the final diagnosis of the case, blind to other center's diagnosis. Data was compared for frequency of diagnostic equivalence. For this study, the diagnosis established at the RCCD was accepted as the gold standard. Sensitivity and specificity were computed.

RESULTS

Ninety individuals were included, 45 with dementia and 45 without dementia (26 cognitively normal and 19 cognitively impaired but non-demented). The informant interview at the BBBABSG had a sensitivity of 86.6% and specificity of 84.4% for the diagnosis of dementia, and a sensitivity of 65.3% and specificity of 93.7% for the diagnosis of normal cognition.

CONCLUSIONS

The informant interview used at the BBBABSG has a high specificity and sensitivity for the diagnosis of dementia as well as a high specificity for the diagnosis of normal cognition.

EEG markers discriminate among different subgroup of patients with mild cognitive impairment

Aim of the study is to discriminate among participants with mild cognitive impairment through electroencephalography brain rhythms. A total of 79 participants with MCI were classified into 4 subgroups based on the beginning of memory complaints up to the time of first visit. All participants underwent electroencephalography recording, magnetic resonance imaging, apolipoprotein E characterization, and volumetric morphometry estimation of hippocampal region. Electroencephalography markers show 2 distinct patterns: (1) increase of theta/ delta power ratio and highest value of alpha2 band power in the group with shorter duration of disease, the greater right-left hippocampal volume difference and worst memory performance; (2) the highest value of alpha3 band power and the highest alpha3/alpha2 power ratio in the group with the lesser total hippocampal volume but preserved memory performance. Apolipoprotein E4 is linked to a major risk of early beginning of disease. Electroencephalography markers allow a mean correct percentage of correct classification up to 89%.

Screening properties of the German IQCODE with a two-year time frame in MCI and early Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND

The Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) is a widely used screening tool for dementia. We aimed to determine the ability of the German version of the 16-item IQCODE with a two-year time frame to discriminate healthy mature control participants (NC) from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and probable early Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients (all with Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) scores >or= 24/30) and to optimize diagnostic discriminability by shortening the IQCODE.

METHODS

453 NC (49.7% women, age = 69.5 years +/- 8.2, education = 12.2 +/- 2.9), 172 MCI patients (41.9% women, age = 71.5 years +/- 8.8, education = 12.3 +/- 3.1) and 208 AD patients (59.1% women, age = 76.0 years +/- 6.4, education = 11.4 +/- 2.9) participated. Stepwise binary logistic regression analyses (LR) were used to shorten the test. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) determined sensitivities, specificities, and correct classification rates (CCRs) for (a) NC vs. all patients; (b) NC vs. MCI; and (c) NC vs. AD patients.

RESULTS

The mean IQCODE was 3.00 for NC, 3.35 for MCI, and 3.73 for AD. CCRs were 85.5% (NC-patient group), 79.9% (NC-MCI), and 90.7% (NC-AD), respectively. The diagnostic discriminability of the shortened 7-item IQCODE (i.e. items 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14) was comparable with the longer version (i.e. 7-item CCRs: NC-patient group: 85.3%; NC-MCI: 80.1%, NC-AD: 90.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

The German 16-item IQCODE with two-year time frame showed excellent screening properties for MCI and early AD patients. An abbreviated 7-item version demonstrated equally high diagnostic discriminability, thus allowing for more economical screening.

Should older adults be screened for dementia?

The question of whether to screen for dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been discussed in many forums throughout the world. Generally, medical advisory groups and policy-making groups have recognized the importance of early diagnosis but have uniformly avoided making recommendations to screen at-risk populations. This presentation reflects the support for reconsidering the importance of screening individuals at risk or above a certain age. In this statement, the majority of the authors support the consideration of dementia risk factors in individuals at age 50, with routine yearly screening after 75. Other authors remain concerned that the benefits of treatments of early disease do not yet support a general screening recommendation. These statements are made to encourage progress toward the development of a consensus regarding the widespread institution of screening policy. Accordingly, members of the worldwide scientific community are invited to add their perspective by contributing short commentaries (1500 words) on this subject.

Long-term cognitive decline in older subjects was not attributable to noncardiac surgery or major illness

BACKGROUND

Persistent postoperative cognitive decline is thought to be a public health problem, but its severity may have been overestimated because of limitations in statistical methodology. This study assessed whether long-term cognitive decline occurred after surgery or illness by using an innovative approach and including participants with early Alzheimer disease to overcome some limitations.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, three groups were identified from participants tested annually at the Washington University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in St. Louis, Missouri: those with noncardiac surgery, illness, or neither. This enabled long-term tracking of cognitive function before and after surgery and illness. The effect of surgery and illness on longitudinal cognitive course was analyzed using a general linear mixed effects model. For participants without initial dementia, time to dementia onset was analyzed using sequential Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Of the 575 participants, 214 were nondemented and 361 had very mild or mild dementia at enrollment. Cognitive trajectories did not differ among the three groups (surgery, illness, control), although demented participants declined more markedly than nondemented participants. Of the initially nondemented participants, 23% progressed to a clinical dementia rating greater than zero, but this was not more common after surgery or illness.

CONCLUSIONS

The study did not detect long-term cognitive decline independently attributable to surgery or illness, nor were these events associated with accelerated progression to dementia. The decision to proceed with surgery in elderly people, including those with early Alzheimer disease, may be made without factoring in the specter of persistent cognitive deterioration.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in athletes: progressive tauopathy after repetitive head injury

Since the 1920s, it has been known that the repetitive brain trauma associated with boxing may produce a progressive neurological deterioration, originally termed dementia pugilistica, and more recently, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). We review 48 cases of neuropathologically verified CTE recorded in the literature and document the detailed findings of CTE in 3 profession althletes, 1 football player and 2 boxers. Clinically, CTE is associated with memory disturbances, behavioral and personality changes, parkinsonism, and speech and gait abnormalities. Neuropathologically, CTE is characterized by atrophy of the cerebral hemispheres, medial temporal lobe, thalamus, mammillary bodies, and brainstem, with ventricular dilatation and a fenestrated cavum septum pellucidum. Microscopically, there are extensive tau-immunoreactive neurofibrillary tangles, astrocytic tangles, and spindle-shaped and threadlike neurites throughout the brain. The neurofibrillary degeneration of CTE is distinguished from other tauopathies by preferential involvement of the superficial cortical layers, irregular patchy distribution in the frontal and temporal cortices, propensity for sulcal depths, prominent perivascular, periventricular, and subpial distribution, and marked accumulation of tau-immunoreactive astrocytes. Deposition of beta-amyloid, most commonly as diffuse plaques, occurs in fewer than half the cases. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a neuropathologically distinct slowly progressive tauopathy with a clear environmental etiology.

Informant-based dementia screening in a population-based sample of African Americans

BACKGROUND

An informant-based screening tool for dementia may be useful in population-based studies of minority populations.

OBJECTIVE

Investigate the feasibility of screening for very mild dementia in a community sample of African Americans using an informant-based screening tool (AD8).

DESIGN

Cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred forty-seven persons from the African American Health (AAH) project were screened for dementia; 61 of 93 who were invited had follow-up clinical assessments for dementia diagnosis.

MEASUREMENTS

The AD8, Mini-Mental State Examination, Short Blessed Test, Brief Instrument for Dementia Detection, and a neuropsychologic battery were administered at visit 1. The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) was administered at visit 2 by clinicians blinded to visit 1 results; the presence of dementia was determined by a CDR greater than 0.

RESULTS

Four hundred sixty-five individuals from the AAH cohort were sent a letter describing the study and, among this group, 252 individuals were contacted by phone to request participation in this study. Six percent (14/252) of the participants contacted by phone were unable to identify an informant (required for the AD8). One hundred fifty individuals agreed by phone to participate of which 2% (n=3) did not have an informant available at the time of participation. The AD8 alone was effective at discriminating between CDR 0 and CDR 0.5 (area under the curve=0.847; P<0.001; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-0.96).

CONCLUSIONS

A brief informant-based instrument, the AD8, has high sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing CDR 0 from CDR 0.5 in the community. Informant availability may not be a barrier for using the AD8 in an African American community sample; however, further study in larger samples with a higher response rate, different community settings (eg, community clinics), and among older age groups (eg, age 75+) is warranted to confirm this.

Screening for memory disorders, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Dementia and its most common cause, Alzheimer’s disease, affect memory and occur predominantly in the elderly. Dementia has become increasingly prevalent in the world as health has improved and life expectancy has increased. However, the fields of clinical care have not responded adequately to develop diagnostic tools and treatments for this rapidly increasing group of conditions. While scientists search for cures for the numerous causes of dementia, improvement of diagnostic measures are needed now and should begin with screening elderly populations for memory difficulties and other cognitive problems. This review examines the history of cognitive screening tests, the numerous excellent tests that are currently available and ready for use, and directions and methods that will lead to progressively better evaluations.

Towards an earlier diagnosis of Alzheimer disease (Proceedings of the 5th MCI Symposium, 2007)

The 5th annual Mild Cognitive Impairment Symposium, held on April 13th and 14th, 2007, in Miami Beach, Florida, focused on the question of whether the time has come to revise criteria for Alzheimer disease (AD). The symposium, sponsored by the Wien Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders, Mt Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida; and the Byrd Alzheimer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida, brought together an international group of clinicians and researchers to examine current evidence for developing new criteria for AD and for outlining areas that still require clarification. Neuropathologic, neuroimaging, epidemiologic, and clinical perspectives were presented and discussed, as well as the impact of ethnic and cultural differences. As became evident, each perspective introduces different challenges in terms of selecting the appropriate assessment tools; determining when, where, and by whom the diagnosis should be given; and deciding whether multiple sets of criteria are needed for use in different settings, for example, research versus primary care practices. As was intended, the symposium delivered no consensus; however, there was substantial support for the idea that AD can and probably should be diagnosed before the onset of dementia, particularly as new interventions become available.

Diagnosis and treatment of dementia: 3. Mild cognitive impairment and cognitive impairment without dementia

BACKGROUND

Mild cognitive impairment and cognitive impairment, no dementia, are emerging terms that encompass the clinical state between normal cognition and dementia in elderly people. Controversy surrounds their characterization, definition and application in clinical practice. In this article, we provide physicians with practical guidance on the definition, diagnosis and treatment of mild cognitive impairment and cognitive impairment, no dementia, based on recommendations from the Third Canadian Consensus Conference on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia, held in March 2006.

METHODS

We developed evidence-based guidelines using systematic literature searches, with specific criteria for study selection and quality assessment, and a clear and transparent decision-making process. We selected studies published from January 1996 to December 2005 that had mild cognitive impairment or cognitive impairment, no dementia, as the outcome. Subsequent to the conference, we searched for additional articles published between January 2006 and January 2008. We graded the strength of evidence using the criteria of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.

RESULTS

We identified 2483 articles, of which 314 were considered to be relevant and of good or fair quality. From a synthesis of the evidence in these studies, we made 16 recommendations. In brief, family physicians should be aware that most types of dementia are preceded by a recognizable phase of mild cognitive decline. They should be familiar with the concepts of mild cognitive impairment and of cognitive impairment, no dementia. Patients with these conditions should be closely monitored because of their increased risk for dementia. Leisure activities, cognitive stimulation and physical activity could be promoted as part of a healthy lifestyle in elderly people and those with mild cognitive impairment. Vascular risk factors should be treated optimally. No other specific therapies can yet be recommended.

INTERPRETATION

Physicians will increasingly see elderly patients with mild memory loss, and learning an approach to diagnosing states such as mild cognitive impairment is now warranted. Close monitoring for progression to dementia, promotion of a healthy lifestyle and treatment of vascular risk factors are recommended for the management of patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Diagnosis and treatment of dementia: 2. Diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Dementia can now be accurately diagnosed through clinical evaluation, cognitive screening, basic laboratory evaluation and structural imaging. A large number of ancillary techniques are also available to aid in diagnosis, but their role in the armamentarium of family physicians remains controversial. In this article, we provide physicians with practical guidance on the diagnosis of dementia based on recommendations from the Third Canadian Consensus Conference on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia, held in March 2006.

METHODS

We developed evidence-based guidelines using systematic literature searches, with specific criteria for study selection and quality assessment, and a clear and transparent decision-making process. We selected studies published from January 1996 to December 2005 that pertained to key diagnostic issues in dementia. We graded the strength of evidence using the criteria of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.

RESULTS

Of the 1591 articles we identified on all aspects of dementia diagnosis, 1095 met our inclusion criteria; 620 were deemed to be of good or fair quality. From a synthesis of the evidence in these studies, we made 32 recommendations related to the diagnosis of dementia. There are clinical criteria for diagnosing most forms of dementia. A standard diagnostic evaluation can be performed by family physicians over multiple visits. It involves a clinical history (from patient and caregiver), a physical examination and brief cognitive testing. A list of core laboratory tests is recommended. Structural imaging with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging is recommended in selected cases to rule out treatable causes of dementia or to rule in cerebrovascular disease. There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine functional imaging, measurement of biomarkers or neuropsychologic testing.

INTERPRETATION

The diagnosis of dementia remains clinically integrative based on history, physical examination and brief cognitive testing. A number of core laboratory tests are also recommended. Structural neuroimaging is advised in selected cases. Other diagnostic approaches, including functional neuroimaging, neuropsychological testing and measurement of biomarkers, have shown promise but are not yet recommended for routine use by family physicians.

The Mayo Clinic Study of Aging: design and sampling, participation, baseline measures and sample characteristics

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to establish a prospective population-based cohort to investigate the prevalence, incidence and risk factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.

METHODS

The Olmsted County, Minn., population, aged 70-89 years on October 1, 2004, was enumerated using the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Eligible subjects were randomly selected and invited to participate. Participants underwent a comprehensive in-person evaluation including the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, a neurological evaluation and neuropsychological testing. A consensus diagnosis of normal cognition, MCI or dementia was made by a panel using previously published criteria. A subsample of subjects was studied via telephone interview.

RESULTS

Four hundred and two subjects with dementia were identified from a detailed review of their medical records but were not contacted. At baseline, we successfully evaluated 703 women aged 70-79 years, 769 women aged 80-89 years, 730 men aged 70-79 years and 517 men aged 80-89 years (total n = 2,719). Among the participants, 2,050 subjects were evaluated in person and 669 via telephone.

CONCLUSIONS

Strengths of the study are that the subjects were randomly selected from a defined population, the majority of the subjects were examined in person, and MCI was defined using published criteria. Here, we report the design and sampling, participation, baseline measures and sample characteristics.

Psychosocial determinants of intention to screen for Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND

There is little information about how receptive older adults are to discuss memory problems with healthcare providers. Here we test the psychosocial factors explaining older adults' intention to undergo screening for Alzheimer disease (AD).

METHODS

A population-based, random-digit dialing strategy surveyed 1,039 older adults. The Behavioral Model of Health Services Use was used as a conceptual framework for a questionnaire testing constructs from several behavioral theories. Structural equation modeling assessed the relationship of latent variables to each construct with goodness-of-fit indices.

RESULTS

The study had an 82% response rate and 72% completer rate. The respondents' mean age was 62.7 +/- 10.2 years (range, 50 to 97 years). The sample was 67% women, 86% were white, and less than 40% had personal experience with AD. Respondents were nondemented (Short Blessed scores, 1.7 +/- 2.2). Predictors of intention to screen included perceived benefits (gamma = .35), knowledge of dementia (gamma = .26), self-efficacy (gamma = .23), preventive health behaviors (gamma = .17), and perceived susceptibility (gamma = .14). Knowledge was positively correlated with perceived benefits (phi = .29) and susceptibility (phi = .20). Preventive behaviors (phi = .20) were positively correlated with perceived benefits. Self-efficacy correlated positively with preventive behaviors (phi = .24) and perceived benefits (phi = .37) and negatively with perceived susceptibility (phi = -.11). Goodness-of-fit indices suggested a good fit of this model (root mean square error of approximation, .037; comparative fit index, 0.98; relative fit index; .96).

DISCUSSION

Older adults who have knowledge of dementia and perceive benefit from diagnosis and treatment are more likely to exhibit willingness and confidence to be tested for cognitive problems. Individuals with high self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, and positive preventive health behaviors are also more likely to exhibit intention. These constructs can now be used to develop interventions to evaluate cognitive health in the elderly.

Telephonic Remote Evaluation of Neuropsychological Deficits (TREND): longitudinal monitoring of elderly community-dwelling volunteers using touch-tone telephones

Use of interactive voice response (IVR) technology to monitor cognitive functioning in cognitively normal (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and mild dementia (MD) participants was examined using 107 community-dwelling participants, 65 to 88 years old. Baseline Clinical Dementia Ratings identified 36 participants as CN, 37 with MCI, and 34 as MD. Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS) and Mini-Mental State Examinations were administered during clinic visits at weeks 0, 8, 16, and 24. IVR cognitive testing was completed at each visit and from participants' homes at weeks 4, 12, and 20. Study partners provided dementia symptoms severity ratings via IVR. The assessment system received 719 participant and 723 partner calls. All calls initiated by CN participants, 99.2% by MCI participants, and 87.3% by MD participants were completed. Telephonic Remote Evaluation of Neuropsychological Deficit tasks showed significant performance differences between participant groups, good reliability, and convergent validity with Mini-Mental State Examinations and ADAS-Cog measures. Automated cognitive testing calls took about 18 minutes to complete, and informant calls took approximately 4 minutes. IVR informant data were convergent with the ADAS-Noncog measure. Computer-automated assessments of cognitive functioning via IVR provided reliable, valid data. Such assessments might benefit routine clinical care and large-scale, longitudinal research in the future, but will require additional research over longer periods.

Clinical prediction of Alzheimer disease dementia across the spectrum of mild cognitive impairment

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether clinical assessment methods that grade the severity of impairments within the spectrum of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) can predict clinical course, particularly among very mildly impaired individuals who do not meet formal MCI criteria as implemented in clinical trials.

DESIGN

Cohort.

SETTING

Community volunteers.

PARTICIPANTS

From a longitudinal study of normal (Clinical Dementia Rating [CDR] = 0; n = 77) and mildly impaired (CDR = 0.5; n = 167) participants with 5 or more annual clinical assessments, baseline level of cognitive impairment in daily life was graded using CDR sum of boxes (CDR-SB) and level of cognitive performance impairment was graded using neuropsychological test scores.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Five-year outcome measures included (1) probable Alzheimer disease (AD) diagnosis and (2) clinical "decline" (CDR-SB increase > or = 1.0). Logistic regression models were used to assess the ability of baseline measures to predict outcomes in the full sample and separately in the subjects who did not meet formal MCI criteria as implemented in a multicenter clinical trial (n = 125; "very mild cognitive impairment" [vMCI]).

RESULTS

The presence of both higher CDR-SB and lower verbal memory and executive function at baseline predicted greater likelihood of probable AD and decline. Five-year rates of probable AD and decline in vMCI (20%, AD; 49%, decline) were intermediate between normal participants (0%, AD; 28%, decline) and participants with MCI (41%, AD; 62%, decline). Within vMCI, likelihood of probable AD was predicted by higher CDR-SB and lower executive function.

CONCLUSIONS

Even in very mildly impaired individuals who do not meet strict MCI criteria as implemented in clinical trials, the degree of cognitive impairment in daily life and performance on neuropsychological testing predict likelihood of an AD diagnosis within 5 years. The clinical determination of relative severity of impairment along the spectrum of MCI may be valuable for trials of putative disease-modifying compounds, particularly as target populations are broadened to include less impaired individuals.

Combining the Memory Impairment Screen and the Isaacs Set Test: A Practical Tool for Screening Dementias

OBJECTIVES

To assess the accuracy of combining the Memory Impairment Screen (MIS) with the Isaacs Set Test (IST) in distinguishing subjects with dementia from controls without dementia.

DESIGN

The weighted sum of MIS and IST scores was calculated, and the logical "or" rule combination was performed using two different patient and control samples. Combination results were compared with each test used alone and with Mini-Mental State Examination to detect all types of dementias.

SETTING

Database of the Regional Network for Diagnostic Aid and Management of Patients with Cognitive Impairment in the Franche-Comté, France, geographical area.

PARTICIPANTS

A cohort of 444 patients with Alzheimer's disease, non-Alzheimer's dementia, and reversible dementia and 311 controls.

MEASUREMENTS

Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated for the combination of these two tests.

RESULTS

The weighted sum had overall sensitivities of 0.92 and 0.84 for mild cases, with a specificity of 0.92. The "or" rule had overall sensitivities of 0.92 and 0.89 for mild cases, with a specificity of 0.90. This pairing requires no more than 5 minutes. Its scoring is simple with the "or" rule combination.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of MIS and IST could be a useful tool for screening dementias. The "or" rule combination seems particularly adapted to medical practice.

Utility of the clinical dementia rating in Asian populations

Consistent with the worldwide demographic trend of population aging, dementia is expected to become a burgeoning public health problem in Asian populations. Thus, there is a pressing need for reliable and valid methods of dementia diagnosis and staging that are applicable in heterogeneous Asian populations. The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) is an informant-based global assessment scale with established reliability and validity that has been widely utilized as a severity-ranking scale in many studies of Asian populations. From a diagnostic standpoint, the CDR is congruent with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders approach of dementia diagnosis. It exhibits excellent discriminatory ability in the very mild stages of dementia, a useful property that is germane to the surging interest in mild cognitive impairment and related concepts. Limitations of the CDR include its length of administration, reliance on clinical judgment and collateral source information, and relative insensitivity as a measure of change in interventional studies. Since the exercise of clinical judgment is inherent in scoring, CDR raters should be mindful of the influence of cultural factors on premorbid lifestyle, informant reliability and performance in certain CDR test items (especially those pertaining to the categories of judgment and problem solving, community, and home and hobbies). Thus, in future studies that involve the nascent use of the CDR in Asian populations, it is recommended that any transcultural adaptation of CDR items be described in detail and appropriate validation studies be carried out before adopting the CDR as a yardstick measure of assessment. The potential of adapted versions of the CDR in chronic care settings and advanced cases should be explored. An integrative approach, combining brief informant interview in conjunction with brief objective cognitive testing, could be a viable strategy for dementia screening in the clinical and research setting that warrants further evaluation in Asian populations.

Development of a Population-based Questionnaire to Explore Psychosocial Determinants of Screening for Memory Loss and Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer disease research has focused on detecting the earliest signs of cognitive decline and efforts are ongoing to develop biomarkers and cognitive measures that reliably distinguish between nondemented and demented individuals. However, little is known about factors that may directly or indirectly influence screening behavior of older community-dwelling adults. We describe an iterative process for the development and formative evaluation of a questionnaire about dementia knowledge and screening behaviors in older adults to understand the psychosocial factors underlying intention to obtain dementia screening to profile individuals manifesting intention to undergo dementia screening compared to those who will not. The Behavioral Model of Health Services Use was used as a conceptual framework for a questionnaire with constructs from the Health Belief Model, Theory of Reasoned Action and Self-Efficacy. After pretesting, we used a random dialing strategy to test our questionnaire on a final sample of 1024 older Missourians. Internal consistency and construct validity were examined. Pretesting identified several potential problems that were improved with rewording. Cronbach alpha was greater than 0.6 (range 0.62 to 0.92) in all but one construct testing dementia knowledge, suggesting good to excellent internal consistency. Convergent (construct) validity was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. All constructs but 3 demonstrated good validity. Addressing these issues will allow researchers to identify unique characteristics based on age, race, sex, socioeconomic differences and geographic location, and characterize barriers to screening programs to more effectively develop targeted community-based interventions.

Recommendations for best practices in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in managed care

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRDs) are increasingly recognized as important causes of impaired cognition, function, and quality of life, as well as excess medical care utilization and costs in the elderly Medicare managed care population. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for ADRDs were published in 2001. More recent studies have resulted in the approval of new agents and demonstrated an expanded role for antidementia therapy in various types of dementia, settings of care, stages of disease, and the use of combination therapy. However, these clinical guidelines have not been updated in the past few years.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this article was to provide practical recommendations developed by a panel of experts that address issues of early diagnosis, treatment, and care management of ADRDs. The panel also addressed the societal and managed care implications.

METHODS

A panel of leading experts was convened to develop consensus recommendations for the treatment and management of dementia based on currently available evidence and the panel's informed expert opinion. The panel comprised 12 leading experts, including clinical investigators and practitioners in geriatric medicine, neurology, psychiatry, and psychology; managed care medical and pharmacy directors; a health systems medical director; and a health policy expert. In addition, articles were collected based on PubMed searches (2000-2005) that were relevant to the key issues identified. Search terms included Alzheimer's disease, dementia, clinical practice guidelines, clinical trials, screening and assessment, and managed care.

RESULTS

ADRDs represent a significant clinical and economic burden to individuals and society, including Medicare managed care organizations (MCOs). Appropriate utilization of antidementia therapy and care management is vitally important to achieving quality of life and care for dementia patients and their caregivers, and for managing the excess costs of Alzheimer's disease. The recommendations address relevant, practical, and timely concerns that are faced on a daily basis by practitioners and by Medicare MCO medical management programs in the care of dementia patients. These consensus recommendations attempt to describe a reasonable current standard for the provision of quality care for patients with dementia. The panel recommendations support the use of screening for cognitive impairment and the use of antidementia therapy for ADRDs in different stages of disease and types of dementia in all clinical settings. The panel members evaluated the use of the 3 marketed cholinesterase inhibitors-donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine-as well as the N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist memantine. Recommendations for using these medications are made with an appreciation of the difficulties in translating the results from investigational clinical trials into clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS

The recommendations of the expert panel represent a clear consensus that nihilism in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ADRDs is unwarranted, impairs quality of care, and is ultimately not costeffective.