Significant Other

Significant Other

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Patients Name
Significant other name

How to Score
Pick 1 answer to each of the 21 questions (yes or no). Then add up all the points to arrive at a final score.

1. Does your loved one have memory loss?*
2. If so, is their memory worse than a few years ago?*
3. Do they repeat statements or stories in*
4. Have you had to take over tracking events or appointments, or does the patient forget appointments?*
5. Do they misplace items more than once a month?*
6. Do they suspect others of hiding, or stealing items when they cannot find them?*
7. Does your loved one frequently have trouble knowing the day, date, month, year, and time; or check the date more than once a day?*
8. Do they become disoriented in unfamiliar places?*
9. Do they become more confused when not at home or when traveling?*
10 . Excluding physical limitations, do they have trouble handling money, such as tips or calculating change?*
11. Do they trouble paying bills or doing finances?*
12. Does your loved one have trouble remembering to take medicines or keeping track of medications taken?*
13. Do they difficulty driving; or are you concerned about their driving?*
14. Are they having trouble using appliances, such as the stove, phone, remote control, microwave?*
15. Excluding physical limitations, are they having difficulty completing home repair or housekeeping tasks?*
16. Excluding physical limitations, have they given up or cut down on hobbies such as golf, dancing, exercise or crafts?*
17. Are they getting lost in familiar surroundings, such as their own neighbourhood?*
18. Is their sense of direction failing?*
19. Do they have trouble finding words other than names?*
20. Do they confuse names of family members or friends?*
21. Do they have trouble recognizing familiar people?*

What the score means

  • 0 to 4: No cause for concern
  • 5 to 14: Memory loss may be an early warning of Alzheimer’s
  • 15 and above: Alzheimer’s may already have developed

Background
Differentiating amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) from normal cognition is difficult in clinical settings. Self-reported and informant-reported memory complaints occur often in both clinical groups, which then necessitates the use of a comprehensive neuropsychological examination to make a differential diagnosis. However, the ability to identify cognitive symptoms that are predictive of aMCI through informant-based information may provide some clinical utility in accurately identifying individuals who are at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods
The current study utilized a case-control design using data from an ongoing validation study of the Alzheimer’s Questionnaire (AQ), an informant-based dementia assessment. Data from 51 cognitively normal (CN) individuals participating in a brain donation program and 47 aMCI individuals seen in a neurology practice at the same institute were analyzed to determine which AQ items differentiated aMCI from CN individuals.

Results
Forward stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis which controlled for age and education showed that 4 AQ items were strong indicators of aMCI which included: repetition of statements and/or questions [OR 13.20 (3.02, 57.66)]; trouble knowing the day, date, month, year, and time [OR 17.97 (2.63, 122.77)]; difficulty managing finances [OR 11.60 (2.10, 63.99)]; and decreased sense of direction [OR 5.84 (1.09, 31.30)].

Conclusions
Overall, these data indicate that certain informant-reported cognitive symptoms may help clinicians differentiate individuals with aMCI from those with normal cognition. Items pertaining to repetition of statements, orientation, ability to manage finances, and visuospatial disorientation had high discriminatory power.

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Nancy K. Lonsdorf, MD
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