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Informant-Based Questionnaires in the Diagnostic Pathway for Screening of Cognitive Impairment.
Abarajithan Chandrasekaran1, Michael Malek-Ahmadi1,2, Boris Decourt3
1University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Neurology and Therapy
|December 25, 2025
Summary
Informant-based questionnaires aid early Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia diagnosis by capturing gradual cognitive decline. These tools supplement performance tests, proving valuable across diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neurology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent dementia in older adults.
- Early diagnosis of dementia and AD presents a significant clinical challenge, particularly in primary care.
- Current diagnostic standards, like performance-based tests, have limitations in capturing early or gradual cognitive changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze key characteristics of informant-based questionnaires for cognitive decline.
- To evaluate the efficacy of these questionnaires as diagnostic aids in medical settings.
- To compare the utility of informant-based assessments with traditional performance-based tests.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of informant-based questionnaires (e.g., IQCODE, Ascertain Dementia 8-Item, QDRS, AQ).
- Analysis of their ability to detect early cognitive impairment and track decline over time.
- Evaluation of their effectiveness in diverse populations, considering cultural and educational factors.
Main Results:
- Informant-based assessments effectively detect early cognitive impairment and gradual decline, unlike single-timeframe performance tests.
- These questionnaires overcome patient-related challenges such as education level, language, and cultural biases.
- Informant-based tools serve as valuable supplements to performance tests, enhancing diagnostic accuracy.
Conclusions:
- Informant-based questionnaires significantly streamline dementia diagnosis when used with performance tests.
- These tools improve dementia management and treatment strategies by providing a more comprehensive patient overview.
- Further research is recommended to integrate these assessments into routine clinical practice as a new standard of care.
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