Functional evaluation of alzheimer patients during clinical trials: A review

Summary onal assessment has a primary role in the evaluation process of Alzheimer patients during clinical trials. In Alzheimerʹs disease (AD), the severity of functional impairment is directly correlated to mortality. In some cases, functional deficit does not progress at the same pace as behavioral and cognitive deterioration. For these reasons, it is advisable to measure sparately cognitive, behavioral and functional status to obtain a full picture of every patient. In this review, the main instruments used for functional evaluation of AD are illustrated. In the early phases of AD, the scales which evaluate complex activities such as the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are preferred, since they allow to reveal also slight impairments of the functional abilities. In the advanced phases, it is better to use some instruments related to the basic activities of daly living (ADL) and the physical self-maintenance scale (PSMS).