Neuropsychological testing and assessment scales for dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

Neuropsychological assessment plays an important role in the process of diagnosing DAT. Whereas the brief screens are sensitive to the cognitive deficits associated with DAT, full battery measures should be used to rule out early dementia or to differentiate among the various dementing illnesses. Following diagnosis, there are numerous assessment measures that facilitate management and placement decisions. These measures include instruments that help stage the illness to determine severity, instruments that evaluate the patient's capacity to perform activities of daily living, and measures that evaluate for the behavior symptoms common in later-stage dementia.