Dementia Screening Test
This information based dementia screening tool is adapted from the Symptoms of Dementia Screener, and has been developed as a screening tool for Alzheimer’s disease to be used by lay people with little or no medical training. It is not intended to be filled out by persons in whom possible cognitive difficulties are suspected, but rather by someone else who knows them.
In its initial development and validation, it was found that using a cut-off of 5 or more “yes” responses to the screening instrument gave the test a specificity of 90.2% and a sensitivity of 84.6% for detecting possible or probably Alzheimer’s disease.
This simple tool should only be used as a guide and cannot replace clinical diagnostic tools administered by trained professionals.
Responses do not determine a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they may simply suggest the need for further assessment.
This information based dementia screening tool is adapted from the Symptoms of Dementia Screener, and has been developed as a screening tool for Alzheimer’s disease to be used by lay people with little or no medical training. It is not intended to be filled out by persons in whom possible cognitive difficulties are suspected, but rather by someone else who knows them.
In its initial development and validation, it was found that using a cut-off of 5 or more “Yes” (Y) responses to the screening instrument gave the test a specificity of 90.2% and a sensitivity of 84.6% for detecting possible or probably Alzheimer’s disease.
This simple tool should only be used as a guide and cannot replace clinical diagnostic tools administered by trained professionals.
Responses do not determine a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, they may simply suggest the need for further assessment.
Yes (Y) No(N) Don’t Know(?)
___ 1. Does the individual often repeat himself or herself or ask the same questions over and over?
___ 2. Does the individual seem more forgetful, that is, have trouble with short-term memory?
___ 3. Does the individual need multiple reminders to do things they used to on their own, like chores, shopping or taking medications?
___ 4. Does the individual repeatedly forget important appointments, family occasions or holidays?
___ 5. Does the individual seem sad, down in the dumps or prone to crying more often that in the past, and without any apparent reason?
___ 6. Does the individual have trouble doing routine calculations, managing finances or balancing a chequebook?
___ 7. Does the individual appear to have lost interest in his or her usual activities such as hobbies, reading or social occasions?
___ 8. Does the individual need help performing regular activities such as eating, dressing, bathing or using the bathroom?
___ 9. Does the individual become easily and unexpectedly irritable, agitated, suspicious or has he or she started imagining (i.e. hearing, seeing or believing) things that are not real?
___ 10. Has the individual been getting lost driving, driving unsafely or stopped driving? Does he or she get lost walking in a familiar area, such as their own neighborhood?
___ 11. Does the individual have trouble finding words, finishing sentences or naming people or things?
Laurie Mountford, the founder of Caregiver Services has extensive experience in the non-profit world. She has been an active volunteer with seniors, and has been involved in horseback riding programs for disabled children and adults. 