title: Accuracy of collateral source reports in very mild to mild dementia of the Alzheimer type.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the reporting accuracy of collateral sources (knowledgeable informants) regarding very mild and mild dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and to identify characteristics associated with collateral source accuracy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analysis of initial visits of individuals enrolled in a longitudinal study of healthy aging and Alzheimer disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urban Alzheimer disease research center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pairs of 515 individuals with very mild (n = 203) or mild (n = 312) DAT and their collateral sources.
  
  
  METHODS
  Collateral sources were asked separately during a semistructured interview by experienced clinicians to report current ability of the individual with DAT in memory, orientation, and judgment and problem solving. The clinical performance of the individuals with DAT in these domains was compared with these predictions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Collateral sources were consistently and significantly accurate in reporting the cognitive capabilities of individuals with very mild and mild DAT. Although all types of collateral sources performed significantly better than chance, individual variables that correlated with collateral source accuracy included spousal relationship; living with the individual with DAT; frequent exposure to the individual; and age, education level, sex and dementia severity of the individual with DAT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collateral sources are accurate in reporting the cognitive capabilities of individuals with DAT, even in the very mild stage of dementia.
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa, Gerontological Nursing Intervention Center, College of Nursing, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Pamela Z
authors.initials: PZ
authors.lastname: Cacchione
authors.forename: Kimberly K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Powlishta
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Virginia D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Buckles
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003071:Cognition; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index