The sooner Alzheimer's dementia or another form of dementia is recognized, the more quickly people with dementia and their loved ones can learn to cope with the symptoms of the disease. And the sooner treatment can be initiated– and support options can be initiated.
75 percent of people with dementia worldwide live without a confirmed diagnosis, according to World Alzheimer Report 2021. One German study reports a similar proportion. As a result, 60 percent do not know they have dementia. Diagnosis is often made very late. However, it is of great importance for people with cognitive impairments and their relatives to have certainty early on: „A timely diagnosis improves living conditions within the scope of later healthcare,“ explains Prof. Dr. med. Peter Kolominsky-Rabas, one of the project leaders of digiDEM Bavaria.
Scientifically validated online questionnaire
To speed up dementia diagnoses, the digiDEM Bavaria team has developed another digital tool: the IQCODE online questionnaire for third-party assessment of memory performance. The IQCODE questionnaire (Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly) is comparable in quality to other proven diagnostic questionnaires, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).
The IQCODE questionnaire is a globally recognized and scientifically validated early detection instrument for dementia. For the first time, it enables relatives and partners of those affected to assess their cognitive decline. With the questionnaire, relatives take an active first important step towards initiating a timely diagnosis. The online questionnaire does not replace a specialized medical diagnosis.
Assessment via PC or mobile phone
The new digital offering knows how to play to its strengths. It is used as a screening tool when individuals do not undergo a medical examination, for example, or wish to reduce personal contact during pandemic times.
The online questionnaire is used to record cognitive changes within the past two years. Whether on the PC at the living room or kitchen table, or on a mobile phone, the new digital offering from digiDEM Bayern is intentionally designed to be accessible. It is also available in five languages: German, English, Turkish, Russian, and Arabic. To answer the questions, one must have known the person being assessed for at least two years. The questionnaire is free to use.
Clear overall assessment
The cognitive assessment questionnaire includes a total of seven questions, each with five possible answers. Once the answers are checked, everyone who uses the questionnaire receives a clear overall assessment. If a specific benchmark is reached, further detailed and comprehensive assessment at a specialized diagnostic facility, such as a memory clinic, is recommended. Therefore, the scope of our online questionnaire service also includes a map of the locations of Bavarian memory clinics.
