Arch Neurol. 1988 Jul;45(7):760-3. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1988.00520310066019.

The relationship of agraphia to the severity of dementia in Alzheimer's disease.

Archives of neurology

J Horner, A Heyman, D Dawson, H Rogers

PMID: 3390031 DOI: 10.1001/archneur.1988.00520310066019

Abstract

Impairment of writing ability was studied in 20 patients with mild to moderate dementia caused by early-onset Alzheimer's disease. A multicomponent analysis was made of a brief narrative writing sample obtained from each patient, and this writing proficiency score was compared with results of standard tests of cognitive function as well as ratings of the degree of dementia. In these patients, significant correlations were observed between this brief test of narrative writing ability and the severity of dementia. An analysis of writing proficiency appears to be a simple means of assessing the severity of dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease. Further studies are needed to show the potential usefulness of such measures of agraphia in subtyping this disease.

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MeSH terms

• Aged
• Agraphia / complications
• Agraphia / psychology
• Alzheimer Disease / complications
• Alzheimer Disease / psychology
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Mental Status Schedule
• Middle Aged
• Severity of Illness Index
• Writing

Publication Types

• Journal Article

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