Construction and Standardization of Dementia Arabic Scale

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychometrics
• Cross-cultural adaptation of diagnostic tools

Background:

• Dementia diagnosis in Arabic-speaking populations is challenging due to a lack of validated assessment tools.
• Existing cognitive screening instruments may not be culturally or linguistically appropriate for Arabic speakers.
• Standardized, reliable diagnostic scales are essential for accurate dementia assessment and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct and validate a standardized dementia scale specifically for the Arabic-speaking population.
• To develop the Dementia Arabic Scale (DAS) as a culturally relevant diagnostic instrument.
• To address the scarcity of validated dementia diagnostic tools in Arabic.

Main Methods:

• The Dementia Arabic Scale (DAS) was constructed and underwent content validity evaluation.
• A pilot study assessed the feasibility and language clarity of the DAS.
• The DAS was administered to patients with major neurocognitive disorder and a control group, alongside the MMSE and CASI, for standardization and validation.

Main Results:

• The DAS showed significant correlations with the MMSE and CASI.
• The scale demonstrated good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.88.
• High sensitivity (100% for literate, 87% for illiterate) and specificity (84% for literate, 96% for illiterate) were observed at specific cutoff points, with an AUC of 0.96.

Conclusions:

• The Dementia Arabic Scale (DAS) is an acceptable, reliable, and valid instrument for dementia diagnosis.
• The DAS provides a crucial tool for identifying dementia in Arabic-speaking countries.
• The scale's strong psychometric properties support its use in clinical and research settings.