Unidimensional scale for dementia

A cognitive test comprising 27 subscales was administered to 262 demented p atients and 92 normal subjects. Principal factor analysis followed by varim ax and Harris-Kaiser rotation and Guttman's scalogram analysis was performe d. The analysis yielded three factors, i.e. 'recent memory', 'immediate mem ory or attention' and 'remote memory'. The relationships between the three- dimensional distribution of the scores and the DSM-IIIR grade of dementia i ndicated the existence of a continuum of dementia severity. Scalogram analy sis showed unidimensionality in the difficulty level of the subscales as we ll as in the severity of the cases. Thus, the simple summary score can be u sed as a good measure of the severity of dementia. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.