A recent study found that family members and close friends are more sensitive to early signs of Alzheimer’s dementia than traditional screening tests, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Researchers at the Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, including first author James Galvin, MD, now at New York University, developed a tool shown to be as effective as traditional cognitive testing. The two-minute tool, Ascertain Dementia 8 (AD8) questionnaire, relies on a friend or family member who knows the person well to evaluate whether cognitive changes have caused the individual to have difficulties in performing everyday activities.
“It’s not economically feasible to screen everyone for Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers,” says John C. Morris, MD, director of the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Washington University School of Medicine. “The AD8 gives us a brief and very low-cost alternative that takes a few minutes of the (family or friend)’s time to screen for dementia and thus identify those individuals who need follow-up evaluations to determine if there truly are signs of Alzheimer’s.”
According to Morris, the Harvey A. and Dorismae Hacker Friedman Distinguished Professor of Neurology, the difficulty with traditional early-stage dementia screening tools is that they only give a snapshot of a person’s cognitive abilities at one point in time—when they’re being tested. Asking the individual if his or her mental abilities have changed doesn’t necessarily produce accurate results either, Morris says, because persons with early-stage dementia often lack insight into their problem.
To determine if your caree exhibits early symptoms of Alzheimer’s, ask yourself if you’ve noticed any changes in your caree’s behavior, specifically:
• Problems with judgment, such as bad financial decisions;
• Reduced interest in hobbies and other activities;
• Repeating of questions, stories or statements;
• Trouble learning how to use a tool or appliance, such as a television remote control or a microwave;
• Forgetting the month or year;
• Difficulty handling complicated financial affairs, such as balancing a checkbook;
• Difficulty remembering appointments; and
• Consistent problems with thinking and memory.
If you answered “yes” more than twice, then you’ll want to schedule a medical appointment for your caree. Check with your local Alzheimer’s Association for referrals to physicians who work with persons with Alzheimer’s.
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Jeff W
This is an interesting idea. We perform home modifications for seniors with disabilities and we always request that close friends, caregivers, or family members be present during a home evaluation so we can get a handle on the “real” problems the patients are having in their home. We sometimes work with families that suspect Alzheimer’s and we’ll let them know about the AD8 to see if it’s available. Good scoop.