Course of Cognitive Functioning in Institutionalized Persons with Moderate to Severe Dementia: Evidence from the Severe Impairment Battery Short Version

Evelien T. Wolf*, Wouter D. Weeda, Roland B. Wetzels, Jos F.M. De Jonghe, Raymond C.T.M. Koopmans

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: To adequately monitor the course of cognitive functioning in persons with moderate to severe dementia, relevant cognitive tests for the advanced dementia stages are needed. We examined the ability of a test developed for the advanced dementia stages, the Severe Impairment Battery Short version (SIB-S), to measure cognitive change over time. Second, we examined type of memory impairment measured with the SIB-S in different dementia stages. Methods: Participants were institutionalized persons with moderate to severe dementia (N = 217). The SIB-S was administered at 6-month intervals during a 2-year period. Dementia severity at baseline was classified according to Global Deterioration Scale criteria. We used mixed models to evaluate the course of SIB-S total and domain scores, and whether dementia stage at baseline affected these courses. Results: SIB-S total scores declined significantly over time, and the course of decline differed significantly between dementia stages at baseline. Persons with moderately severe dementia declined faster in mean SIB-S total scores than persons with moderate or severe dementia. Between persons with moderate and moderately severe dementia, there was only a difference in the rate of decline of semantic items, but not episodic and non-semantic items. Conclusions: Although modest floor and slight ceiling effects were noted in severe and milder cases, respectively, the SIB-S proved to be one of few available adequate measures of cognitive change in institutionalized persons with moderate to severe dementia. (JINS, 2019, 25, 204-214).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)204-214
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of the International Neuropsychological Society
Volume25
Issue number2
Early online date20 Nov 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2019

Keywords

  • Cognition
  • Cognitive decline
  • Dementia
  • Dementia stages
  • Institutionalization
  • Longitudinal studies
  • Neuropsychological tests

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Course of Cognitive Functioning in Institutionalized Persons with Moderate to Severe Dementia: Evidence from the Severe Impairment Battery Short Version'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this