Ruggero L, Croot K, Nickels L. Quality of Life Ratings and Proxy Bias in Primary Progressive Aphasia: Two Sides to the Story?
Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen 2023;
38:15333175231177668. [PMID:
37247394 PMCID:
PMC10623902 DOI:
10.1177/15333175231177668]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A valid measure of quality of life is important for clinical goal setting and for evaluating interventions. In the amnestic dementias, proxy-raters (e.g. friends, families, clinicians) typically rate quality of life lower than the self-ratings given by the person with dementia - a proxy bias. This study investigated whether the same proxy bias occurs in Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), a language-led dementia.Quality of life was measured in 18 individuals with PPA using self-ratings, and proxy-ratings by their main communication partner, using the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease Scale.There was no strong evidence for proxy bias at a group level, with no consistent pattern across dyads, where proxy- and self-ratings did not show good levels of agreement. We suggest that self-ratings and proxy-ratings of quality of life in PPA are not interchangeable. Higher-powered investigation of the patterns observed here is warranted in future studies.
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