The WAIS-R profile as a cognitive marker of Alzheimer's disease: a misguided venture?
The utility of a pattern on WAIS-R subtest performance (Fuld profile) in differentiating between dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) and multi-infarct dementia (MID) was investigated. The Fuld profile was neither sensitive nor specific to DAT, as similar numbers of DAT subjects (15%) and MID subjects (12%) obtained a positive profile. No relationship between presence of the profile and level of education was detected. However, a positive profile in DAT subjects was associated with less severe neuropsychological impairment. Implications of this finding as well as the value of searching for a cognitive marker for DAT are discussed.
Gfeller
J D
JD
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, MO 63104.
Rankin
E J
EJ
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D015161:Dementia, Multi-Infarct / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D014888:Wechsler Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*