Further validation of the Hierarchic Dementia Scale: A longitudinal study of cognitive function in dementia

A longitudinal study was undertaken assessing the efficacy of the Hierarchic Dementia Scale (HDS) as a measure of cognitive function over time, for individuals with dementia who were residing in the community. The participants were administered the HDS and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). One hundred eighty-six people with a diagnosis of primary degenerative dementia were assessed. Two years later, 78 of the original sample were reassessed using the same measures. The HDS revealed a significant decline in cognitivefunctions with initial scores significantly predicting patient institutionalization or death. The study also reported additional psychometric data for the HDS.