Clinical utility of the F unctional I ndependence M easure for assessment of patients with A lzheimer's disease and vascular dementia

Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical utility of the F unctional I ndependence M easure ( FIM ), and especially FIM ‐ C ognition ( FIM ‐ C ) scores, in patients with A lzheimer's disease ( AD ) and vascular dementia ( VaD ), and to determine the influence of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia ( BPSD ) on FIM ‐ C scores. Methods This was a cross‐sectional survey of 37 AD and 40 VaD patients. Cognitive function was assessed with the C ognitive A bilities S creening I nstrument. Activities of daily living were evaluated with the FIM and the B arthel I ndex. BPSD were assessed with the B ehavioural P athology in A lzheimer's D isease F requency W eighted S everity S cale. Results For both groups, S pearman's correlations were found between FIM ‐ M otor and B arthel I ndex scores and between FIM ‐ C and M ini M ental S tate E xamination scores. Each FIM ‐ C subscore was correlated with C ognitive A bilities S creening I nstrument scores in both groups, except for the FIM ‐ C   S ocial interaction subscore in VaD . VaD patients showing A ctivity D isturbance and A ggressiveness on the B ehavioural P athology in A lzheimer's D isease F requency W eighted S everity S cale had significantly lower FIM ‐ C   M emory and S ocial interaction subscores than those without BPSD . Conclusion The results suggest that the FIM ‐ M otor and FIM ‐ C scales are useful measures of physical and cognitive disabilities in patients with AD and VaD . The FIM ‐ C profile of AD may reflect global cognitive function, while that of VaD may be more influenced by BPSD .