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A longitudinal study of Alzheimer's disease: rates of cognitive and functional decline
Author(s) -
Suh GukHee,
Ju YoungSu,
Yeon Byeong Kil,
Shah Ajit
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.1168
Subject(s) - dementia , cognition , cognitive decline , psychology , alzheimer's disease , longitudinal study , activities of daily living , gerontology , disease , mini–mental state examination , observational study , medicine , psychiatry , pathology
Objective To measure rates of decline in cognition and function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to investigate their accelerating risk factors in Korea. Methods This study presents longitudinal data on a community‐based sample of 107 patients with AD, followed at 6 months and 12 months. The cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS‐cog), the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Disability Assessment for Dementia Scale (DAD) were given. Mixed model analyses were conducted using the following independent variables: times of repeated assessment (0, 6 or 12 months), severity of dementia assessed by the Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) and individual indicators as covariates. Results Average annual rates of decline in the MMSE, the ADAS‐cog and the DAD were 2.3, 11.4 and 15.1 points, respectively. Neither gender, duration of formal education, nor duration of AD since onset was significant predictors of cognitive and functional decline. Patterns of functional decline in total DAD, instrumental ADLs, planning and organization and performance subscale are linear as MMSE score declines, while those of the basic ADLs and the initiation are curvilinear. Conclusion This naturalistic observational study measured rates of cognitive and functional decline in AD, and can provide reference data for further longitudinal studies or clinical trials. Further study will be necessary to determine whether linear or curvilinear pattern in functional decline is due to progression of AD itself or statistical artifact. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.