A comparison of the performance of dementing and non-dementing subjects on the extended scale for dementia

Abstract

Dementia is an irreversible, progressive, global, deterioration of mental and physical function, of unknown causes. Because of the seriousness of the condition diagnosis and assessment are crucial. Research on the interaction of age, health, and intellectual functioning suggest health status is particularly important to intellectual performance in the elderly. The Extended Scale for Dementia (ESD) is one of the many cognitive assessment instruments used to distinguish dementing subjects from normals and to monitor the progess of dementia. This study compares the performance of hospitalized dementing subjects with 2 control groups of non-dementing subjects, one in hospital and one in the community. Significant differences in ESD scores (F(2, 50) = 34.71, p <.001) were found between dementing and control subjects (Newman Keuls range test, p <.01) but not between the two control groups (p >.05). These results, therefore, support the use of the test to distinguish between dementing and non-dementing subjects but not to distinguish between normal subjects in the community and those in hospital. Discriminant analysis identified 4 items involving orientation and memory which would discriminate between the dementing and control subjects in this study, but not in the wider population. The 6 items found by Hersch (1979) to discriminate between dementing and psychogeriatric subjects successfully discriminated between the dementing and normal subjects in the present study.