The use of current reading ability in the assessment of dementia.

Word-reading ability and general intelligence level were shown to be highly correlated in a group of normal adults; from this data a regression equation was obtained. Using this regression equation, IQ levels were predicted from reading scores in a group of dementing patients. The evidence strongly suggested that these predicted IQ levels provided close approximations to the premorbid IQ levels. Furthermore, the evidence implied that reading ability is potentially a better indicator of premorbid level of functioning than vocabulary level. The advantages and limitations of using the regression equation in the detection and evaluation of dementia in the individual patient are considered.