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Issues in the assessment of cognitive function in dementia
1Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Medical Center, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA.
Brain and Cognition
|July 1, 1996
Summary
New technologies are needed to assess cognitive function in aging populations due to rising dementia cases and limited resources. Neuropsychological microbatteries like the DRS and NCSE can guide the development of efficient, modern cognitive assessment tools.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and Cognitive Neuroscience
- Development of novel assessment technologies for cognitive disorders
Background:
- Increasing prevalence of elderly individuals with dementia-like cognitive impairments.
- Resource limitations in healthcare systems to address growing cognitive health needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the necessity for developing new, efficient assessment technologies for cognitive functioning in older adults.
- To propose models for next-generation cognitive assessment instruments that align with current neuroscience and geriatric considerations.
Main Methods:
- Review of current cognitive assessment measures and their limitations.
- Identification of potential models for new assessment tools, specifically mentioning neuropsychological microbatteries.
Main Results:
- Current cognitive function measures often lack efficiency and fail to incorporate current neuroscience and geriatric developmental characteristics.
- Neuropsychological microbatteries, such as the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) and the Neuropsychiatric Clinical Symptoms Evaluation (NCSE), show promise as foundational models.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for innovative technologies to assess cognitive function in the elderly.
- Neuropsychological microbatteries offer a viable framework for developing more effective and modern cognitive assessment instruments tailored for older populations.