[The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) and Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) in the diagnosis of Alzheimer type...

Described are two scales for the diagnosis of dementia of the Alzheimer type and for identifying its following stages solely on the basis of social functioning and on daily activity level of the patient. The authors of the scale, Resiberg et al. based their findings on the conclusion that dementia of the Alzheimer type is a rare clinical syndrome with a characteristic onset and development which are identical in over 90% of patients. The GDS (Global Deterioration Scale) separates the course of dementia into 6 stages. The FAST (Functional Assessment Scale) separates deterioration into 16 stages. Both scales, especially allow for the systematic tracking of course of the uncomplicated Alzheimer's case. They also show the appearance of any additional somatic and psychopathological factors which cause the state of the patient to appear worst than could result from the current stage the patient is in. They ease the differentiation between dementia of the Alzheimer type and dementia of other aetiology. Apart from these scales, especially the FAST, allow to the estimation with significant accuracy how long the current stage, as well as the whole illness will last in a given patient. Similarly, predictions may be made as to the time and in what order particular life functions will be diminishing in specific patients until the terminal state.