Timed 360° turn test in people with Alzheimer's disease: a reliability and validity study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Turning is a crucial daily activity often impaired in people with Alzheimer's disease (PwAD).
• The timed 360º turn test (360TT) assesses turning but lacks established reliability and validity in PwAD.
• This study addresses the need for validated turning assessments in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the test-retest reliability of the 360TT in PwAD.
• To calculate the standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimum detectable change (MDC) for 360TT.
• To assess the concurrent and known-groups validity of the 360TT in PwAD.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 33 PwAD and 32 healthy controls.
• The 360TT was administered twice (7-10 days apart) for reliability assessment in PwAD.
• Concurrent validity was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test, and Mini-Mental State Examination.

Main Results:

• The 360TT demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability for both dominant (ICC=0.957) and non-dominant (ICC=0.916) sides.
• SEM95 and MDC95 values were low (e.g., 0.33s and 0.91s for the dominant side), indicating sensitivity to change.
• The 360TT showed significant correlations with balance and cognitive measures and distinguished PwAD from healthy controls (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

• The timed 360º turn test is a reliable and valid tool for assessing turning ability in people with Alzheimer's disease.
• Clinicians and researchers can confidently use the 360TT to quantify turning performance and changes over time in AD.
• This validated test aids in the clinical management and research of mobility impairments in AD.