The Global Deterioration Scale for assessment of primary degenerative dementia

Abstract

Cognitive decline associated with old age and consistent with the diagnosis of primary degenerative dementia is a unique clinical syndrome with characteristic phenomena and progression. A Global Deterioration Scale for the assessment of primary degenerative dementia is described and its stages are delineated. The Global Deterioration Scale was used successfully for > 5 yr and has been validated against behavioral, neuroanatomic and neurophysiologic measures in patients with primary degenerative dementia.