HOUSTON: A new evaluation tool allows even a layperson to determine if a person has dementia, and the extent of the dementia, within minutes.
The method allows even a layperson to do the assessment in three to five minutes. Researchers say the results from the quick evaluation are comparable to the “gold standard” dementia tests used by clinicians today.
The new tool, called the “Quick Dementia Rating System” (QDRS), uses an evidence-based methodology to obtain valid and reliable ratings that differentiate individuals with and without dementia.
When dementia is present, the system accurately stages the condition to determine if it is very mild, mild, moderate or severe. QDRS has applications for use in clinical practice, to pre-qualify patients in clinical trials, prevention studies, community surveys, and biomarker research…