| Classification |
Instrument |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Sensitivity
For AD
In DS |
Specificity For AD
In DS |
Reference |
| Observer rated scales |
DSDS |
- Comprehensive
- Scores new behaviours
- Measures from early to late stage
- Includes differential
diagnosis scale
- No significant floor effect |
- No measure of general disability
- Cut- off varies
- Little emphasis on change [43]
- Restrictions on use (specialized rater)
- Some redundant items[37]
- Lengthy (up 30 mins) administration time |
89% |
85% |
Gedye [41] |
| DMR |
- Includes measure of general disability
- Emphasis on memory
- Orientation assessed
- No restrictions on use
- Brief administration time (15- 20 mins) |
- Requires repeat measures over time [43]
- Behavioural disturbance questions have poor reliability
- low specificity in low- moderate ID
- Floor effects |
92% |
92% |
Evenhuis [42] |
| CAMDEX- DS |
- Includes measure of general disability
- Strong emphasis on change
- Can be used to predict cognitive decline
- Excellent IRR |
- Diagnostic rather than a screening tool
- Initially designed for the general adult population
- Floor effects
- Lengthy administration time |
88% |
94% |
Roth et al. [43]
Ball et al. [44] |
| DSQIID |
- Validated in a large sample
- Excellent IRR
- Brief administration time (10- 15 mins) |
- Single fixed cut- off may limit in advanced dementia & those with different baseline disability |
92% |
97% |
Deb et al. [31] |
| Neuropsychological tests |
DSME |
- Easy to administer |
- Limited number of domains
- Over emphasis on verbal skills
- Poor sensitivity compared to other tests [27]
- Floor effects |
NA |
NA |
Haxby [23] |
| CAMCOG- DS |
Neuropsychological component of the
CAMDEX
- Quantitative score that can be tracked longitudinally
- Differentiates older from younger persons with DS |
- Limited assessment of executive function
- Limited generalizability to those with late dementia
- Initially designed for the genera
l adult population |
See for CAMDEX- DS |
See for CAMDEX- DS |
Hon et al. [45]
Ball et al. [24] |
| TSI |
- Wide range of scores
- Requires little speech
- No significant floor or ceiling effects
- Brief administration time (10 mins) |
- No measure of general disability
- Designed for the general adult population |
NA |
NA |
Albert and Cohen [47] |
| Adaptive behaviour tests |
ABDQ |
- Excellent accuracy (92%)
- Brief administration time (10 mins)
- Designed specifically for AD
- Excellent IRR |
- Effects of variables (age, race) undetermined
- No assessment of cognition
- No measure of general disability |
89% |
94% |
Prasher et al. [51] |
| DLSQ |
- No significant floor effect
- High positive predictive value
- Correlates strongly with direct cognitive tests |
- No assessment of cognition
- No measure of general disability
|
NA |
NA |
National Institute of Ageing [53] |
