Assessment of patient and caregiver experiences of dementia-related symptoms: development of the Multidimensional Assessment of Neurodegenerative Symptoms questionnaire.
BACKGROUND
To provide preliminary validation data on a self- or informant-report multidimensional questionnaire of symptoms associated with neurodegenerative disorders.


METHODS
Participants from 2 trials (n = 125), the Arizona APOE Cohort and the Arizona Alzheimer's Disease Center, completed the Multidimensional Assessment of Neurodegenerative Symptoms questionnaire (MANS) and other related measures.


RESULTS
Measures of central tendency are provided for the sample as a whole and by cognitive status. Internal consistency of the MANS is excellent (alpha = 0.98). Factor analysis suggests 4 factors. Correlational analyses support the construct validity of the MANS with moderate to high (r = 0.54-0.87) correlations between the MANS and measures of mood, cognition and daily functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
Results provide initial support for the MANS as a brief measure that is a reliable and valid indicator of cognitive, personality, functional and motor symptoms potentially related to neurodegenerative etiologies. Further research with the MANS is warranted.
Locke
Dona E C
DE
Division of Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA. locke.dona@mayo.edu
Dassel
Kara B
KB
Hall
Geri
G
Baxter
Leslie C
LC
Woodruff
Bryan K
BK
Hoffman Snyder
Charlene
C
Miller
Bruce L
BL
Caselli
Richard J
RJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003704:Dementia / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001057:Apolipoproteins E