Clinical Trials and the Use of the ADAS-Cog

If you've ever read research on clinical trials for treating Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, chances are you may have seen a reference to the ADAS-Cog- an abbreviation for the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale- Cognitive sub-scale.  The ADAS-Cog is a frequently used test that measures cognition. It not only identifies people whose ability to think, process and recall information is impaired, but it also measures the extent of the impairment. So, in clinical trials where a drug may be tested to see if it can improve memory or other aspects of cognitive functioning, the ADAS-Cog is often one of the tools used to determine if there has been any difference since the treatment was started.

For example, here's an article outlining IVIG therapy which was tested in people with Alzheimer's disease in a clinical trial with very positive results: Study: Treatment Stabilized Alzheimer's Patients for 36 Months.

To learn more about the ADAS-Cog, including the 11 items it specifically measures, as well as how it's scored, here's more information:

What Is the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale- Cognitive Sub-Scale (ADAS-Cog)?Clinical Trials and the Use of the ADAS-Cog originally appeared on About.com Alzheimers Disease on Sunday, October 6th, 2013 at 15:11:58.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Source: About Alzheimers Disease - October 6, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news