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Background/Aims: The diagnostic criteria for dementia include reliable evidence of cognitive deterioration over time measured by cognitive tests. The Structured Interview for the Diagnosis of Dementia of the Alzheimer Type, Multi-infarct Dementia and Dementia of other Etiology according to DSM-III-R, DSM-IV and ICD-10 (SIDAM) is a neuropsychological instrument to determine cognitive status in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Normative data for changes in cognitive functioning that normally occur in cognitively healthy individuals are required to interpret changes in SIDAM test scores. Methods: A sample of 1,090 cognitively healthy individuals participating in the German Study on Ageing, Cognition and Dementia in Primary Care Patients (AgeCoDe) aged 75 years and older was assessed four times at 1.5-year intervals over a period of 4.5 years using the SIDAM. Age- and education-specific reliable change indices (RCIs) accounting for probable measurement error and practice effects were computed for a 90% confidence interval. Results: Across different age and education subgroups, changes from at least 3–5 points indicated significant (i.e. reliable) changes in SIDAM test scores at the 90% confidence level. Conclusion: This study offers age- and education-specific normative data for the SIDAM based upon established RCI methods. The RCI scores provided in this study may help clinicians and researchers to interpret cognitive changes in SIDAM test scores and may contribute to the early detection and diagnosis of MCI and dementia in the elderly.

Background/Aims: In the past few decades, a number of studies investigated risk factors of nursing home placement (NHP) in dementia patients. The aim of the study was to investigate risk factors of NHP in incident dementia cases, considering characteristics at the time of the dementia diagnosis. Methods: 254 incident dementia cases from a German general practice sample aged 75 years and older which were assessed every 1.5 years over 4 waves were included. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to determine predictors of NHP. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to evaluate the time until NHP. Results: Of the 254 incident dementia cases, 77 (30%) were institutionalised over the study course. The mean time until NHP was 4.1 years. Significant characteristics of NHP at the time of the dementia diagnosis were marital status (being single or widowed), higher severity of cognitive impairment and mobility impairment. Conclusion: Marital status seems to play adecisive role in NHP. Early initiation of support of sufferers may ensure remaining in the familiar surroundings as long as possible.