FACTOR STRUCTURE OF THE MATTIS-DEMENTIA RATING-SCALE AMONG PATIENTS WITH PROBABLE ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

The Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (MDRS) is widely used to evaluate cognitive function in older adults who may be suffering from dementing illnesses. This report describes a factor analytic approach taken to investigate the constructs underlying the performance of patients with probable Alzheimer's Disease. Three factors emerged from our analysis relating to: (a) conceptualization (b) construction and (c) memory. There was deviation between the original MDRS scheme and the clustering of the items in the factor analysis. A shortened test was developed from 11 of the original 17 items which loaded most heavily on the three factors.