When it comes to picking up the first signs of dementia in a family member, close friends and family may be better at it than the family doctor. According to a new study published in the journal Brain, a simple two-minute dementia screen questionnaire filled out by family or close friends is more accurate for detecting the first signs of dementia than more sophisticated testing done in a doctor’s office.
A Questionnaire to Detect the First Signs of Dementia?
Researchers developed a questionnaire called the AD8 that takes about two minutes for a family member to fill out. This questionnaire asks about changes in a patient’s ability to think and remember. For example, it might ask if a family member has noticed the patient forgetting the month or year or if they’ve displayed bad judgment recently – or forgotten how to do simple things that were once second nature to them. These questions are answered with a simple “yes” or “no” – and a final score is tabulated.
One of the tests doctors routinely use to evaluate a patient’s ability to think and recall is the Mini-Mental State exam, a dementia screen administered in a doctor’s office. This exam, which evaluates a person’s ability to think and remember, is used in conjunction with other testing such as blood tests (to rule out other conditions), head imaging, and neuropsychological testing – to ultimately make the diagnosis of early dementia.
Are Family and Friends Better at Detecting Early Dementia Than Mental Status Tests?
Researchers pitted the AD8 family questionnaire against the Mini-Mental State exam to see which was better for picking up signs of early dementia. Then, they compared the results on these two exams to biomarkers in spinal fluid and brain plaque scans that go along with dementia. What did they find?
The AD8 questionnaire, completed by family members, was superior to the conventionally used Mini-Mental State Exam for identifying early dementia. As it turns out, the insights of family members and close friends may be a better dementia screen than more sophisticated exams a doctor does in his or her office.
First Signs of Dementia: The Role of Family and Friends
Family and friends often pick upon subtle signs of early dementia that more sophisticated testing misses. If you’re worried about the deteriorating memory of a loved one, trust your instincts and insist that he or she get further evaluation.
References:
Medical News Today. “Friends, Family Detect Early Alzheimer’s Signs Better Than Traditional Tests”
