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Informant questionnaires as screening measures to detect dementia. A pilot study in the South African context
V Lenger1, C de Viliers, S J Louw
1Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town.
Summary
The Deterioration Cognitive Observee (DECO) informant questionnaire shows promise for detecting dementia in elderly South Africans. It correlated well with standard cognitive tests and clinician diagnoses, offering a potential screening tool.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Cognitive screening for dementia lacks culturally appropriate tools in South Africa.
- Early and accurate diagnosis of dementia is crucial for timely intervention and care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pilot the efficacy of the Deterioration Cognitive Observee (DECO) informant questionnaire for detecting cognitive decline in the elderly.
- To assess the DECO's suitability as a cross-cultural screening measure for dementia in South Africa.
Main Methods:
- The DECO informant questionnaire was administered to relatives of elderly patients at Groote Schuur Hospital Geriatric Clinic.
- DECO results were compared against Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores and clinician diagnoses.
- Open-ended questions were used to gather additional behavioral and cognitive information.
Main Results:
- DECO scores accurately predicted normal functioning in 7 patients and dementia in 8.
- DECO scores showed a significant correlation with MMSE scores (r = 0.625; P < 0.01).
- MMSE scores correlated with clinician diagnoses, and open-ended questions corroborated these diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- The DECO informant questionnaire demonstrated effectiveness in predicting dementia, with high accuracy across various severity levels.
- The DECO is a potential viable alternative to direct cognitive testing for dementia screening in South Africa.
- The DECO warrants consideration as a screening tool for dementia in the elderly South African population.