Alzheimer's Disease Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Alzheimer's Disease, including details on diagnosis, memory loss, heredity, treatment, medication.

Neuropsychosocial features of very mild Alzheimer's disease (CDR 0.5) and progression to dementia in a community: the Tajiri project.

Meguro K, Shimada M, Yamaguchi S, Sano I, Inagaki H, Matsushita M, Sekita Y, Mori E

Department of Behavioral Neurology and Cognitive Neuroscience, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 9808575, Japan. k-meg@umin.ac.jp

The borderline condition between normal aging and dementia should be detected to predict further deterioration. The authors cross-sectionally analyzed neuropsychological data, memory complaints, and social activities for community-dwelling older adults. The rate of decline from Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) 0.5 to dementia during a 3-year interval was also analyzed. Short-term memory rather than long-term memory was found to be sensitive in distinguishing those with CDR 0 from those with CDR 0.5. Relatives' observations of memory decline rather than subjective memory complaints were significantly different. Participants with CDR 0.5 reported fewer problems with social activities than did their relatives. Ten of the 29 CDR 0.5 participants (34.5%) showed cognitive decline, the decliners showing lower scores on short-term memory and orientation at the baseline condition. The neuropsychological data showed CDR 0.5 to be similar to very mild Alzheimer's disease. It would be better if subjective complaints were excluded from the criteria of the borderline condition.

Published 9 November 2004 in J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, 17(4): 183-9.
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