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ADCS Prevention Instrument Project: behavioral measures in primary prevention trials
Jeffrey L Cummings1, Rema Raman, Karin Ernstrom
1Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1769, USA. jcummings@mednet.ucla.edu
Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders
|December 1, 2006
Summary
Behavioral changes like depression and anxiety are common in early cognitive decline. Telephonic assessments are feasible for tracking these changes in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or normal aging.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Urgent need for reliable instruments in Alzheimer's disease (AD) prevention trials.
- Behavioral changes may precede cognitive diagnosis in dementia.
- Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Prevention Instrument Project developed new methodologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop inexpensive, reliable instruments for AD prevention trials.
- Examine if behavioral changes occur before significant cognitive decline.
- Assess feasibility of telephonic behavioral assessments.
Main Methods:
- 644 individuals with CDR 0 or 0.5 randomly assigned to in-clinic or telephonic assessment.
- Behavioral measures included depression, anxiety, irritability, and apathy.
- Assessments administered to individuals and research partners.
Main Results:
- Most measures showed good test-retest reliability over 3 months.
- Behavioral changes more common in CDR 0.5 than CDR 0.
- Irritability, anxiety, and apathy more prevalent in ethnic minorities.
- Depression, irritability, anxiety, and apathy are correlated.
Conclusions:
- Behavioral changes are frequent in mild cognitive impairment (CDR 0.5).
- Telephonic assessment of behavioral changes is a viable method.
- Longitudinal assessment will determine predictive value for dementia progression.
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