Development and implementation of an electronic Clinical Dementia Rating and Financial Capacity Instrument-Short Form

Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2022 Jul 24;14(1):e12331. doi: 10.1002/dad2.12331. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Introduction: To address the need for remote assessments of cognitive decline and dementia, we developed and administered electronic versions of the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR®) and the Financial Capacity Instrument-Short Form (FCI-SF) (F-CAP®), called the eCDR and eFCI, respectively.

Methods: The CDR and FCI-SF were adapted for remote, unsupervised, online use based on item response analysis of the standard instruments. Participants completed the eCDR and eFCI first in clinic, and then at home within 2 weeks.

Results: Of the 243 enrolled participants, 179 (73%) cognitively unimpaired (CU), 50 (21%) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia, and 14 (6%) with an unknown diagnosis, 84% and 85% of them successfully completed the eCDR and eFCI, respectively, at home.

Discussion: These results show initial feasibility in developing and administering online instruments to remotely assess and monitor cognitive decline along the CU to MCI/very mild dementia continuum. Validation is an important next step.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Brain Health Registry; aging research; internet; remote online instruments.