Gerontopsychiatry

Vita

Katrin Jekel - Diplom-Psychologin

Central Institute of Mental Health, Department of Geriatric Psychiatry
Square J5
68159 Mannheim

Phone: +49 (0) 621 - 170 33 307
jekel@nar.uni-heidelberg.de

Fellows: Prof. Dr. Lutz Frölich, Prof. Dr. Hans-Werner Wahl

Direct assessment of instrumental activities of daily living in patients with mild cognitive impairment

The assessment of activities of daily living (ADL) is essential, both for the diagnosis of dementia and for the evaluation of therapy effectiveness in clinical trials. In patients with dementia, impairments of instrumental ADL (financial abilities, using public transport) occur first, followed by impairments of basic ADL (eating, dressing) as the disease progresses.

In mild cognitive impairment (MCI), it has long been assumed that only memory is impaired while functional abilities are completely preserved. Recent studies, however, have shown that subtle deficits concerning instrumental ADL do occur in MCI. These deficits were possibly not detected due to insufficient sensitivity of existing instruments. Furthermore, ADL assessment tools rely on informant or self-report rating scales which are prone to over/underestimation of specific functional deficits. By using a direct method of assessment, these errors could be avoided.

The aim of this research project is to develop an instrument for the direct assessment of complex ADL in patients with MCI and mild dementia. For the validation of this instrument, comparisons with established self-report and informant rating scales will be conducted. In addition, clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients and their primary caregiver will be analyzed.

Vita