CORRELATION BETWEEN THE INFORMANT QUESTIONNAIRE ON COGNITIVE DECLINE IN THE ELDERLY (IQCODE) AND MINI MENTAL STATE EXAMINATION (MMSE) AS A Screening TEST FOR AZHEIMER’S DISEASE.

Objective: The objective of this study was to find the correlation and identification of the better of two commonly used Screening tools for detecting probable Cognitive impairment of the patients with Dementia. Method: It was cross-sectional descriptive study. Non- probability convenient sampling technique was used to collect the data. The duration of the study was nine months i.e. May, 2008 to February, and 2009. Study Inclusion and exclusion criteria were observed. Patients were first screened on the scores of Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and then Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in Elderly (IQCODE). Results: The findings of the study revealed that there was a negative correlation between MMSE Scores and IQCODE scores which was statistically significant. Conclusion: To provide better screening, cognitive tests can be combined with informant- based tools. Overall, the results of our study are consistent with the findings of previous researches who reported that the IQCODE when filled out by an informant is a valid predictor of cognitive status and cognitive decline.