Developed in 1989, the IQCODE questionnaire is particularly well-suited for all population groups, regardless of educational level or professional status.
In both research and clinical practice, dementia screening tests such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) are frequently used. These screening tests, which rely on assessments by third parties such as relatives or caregivers rather than on the examination of the affected individuals themselves, serve an important and complementary function. This is because they can enable the timely detection of dementia even in individuals who are, for example, acutely ill or who do not wish to undergo a cognitive test themselves.
Assessment of cognitive decline
A research team led by Anthony F. Jorm first presented such a specific questionnaire as a screening tool to the public in 1989. It describes the concrete approach on how a dementia disorder can be reliably detected. The team developed the IQCODE questionnaire (Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the ElderlyThis is an instrument for assessing cognitive decline in affected individuals by a close relative. The IQCODE has been translated into a total of 22 languages, including Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, and Thai. and care, psychological well-being, and general health.
The questionnaire focuses on changes in memory performance during the observation period. The individual questions are answered by a close associate; the affected person does not need to undergo any examination. The study shows that the questionnaire exhibits high reliability and validity. The results of this questionnaire correlate highly with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), which is widely used in clinical practice, as well as with the degree of care dependency of the subject. Due to the simple and understandable questions and answer options, the questionnaire is particularly well-suited for all population groups, regardless of educational level or professional status.
