Several authors advocate the need to assess executive functioning (EF) as a robust determinant of the functional status of the subject and as a potential marker of dementia. However there are few available instruments that allow the assessment of different components of the EF in the context of aging, both normal and pathological. This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) such as acceptability, construct validity (discriminant validity), and criterion validity on the context of aging in a Portuguese sample. This comprised 33 subjects with more than 65 years divided in two groups: Control Group (n=22), made of cognitively intact subjects; Dementia Group (n=11), composed of patients with probable diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (NINCDS-ARDA criteria). We have applied the BADS, the Dementia Rating Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale to both groups. The BADS revealed good levels of acceptance, internal consistency, discriminative and criterion validity. The results favor the use of this instrument in the context of aging and dementia, which may be very useful in monitoring EF and in the detection of dementia.
Aging; Alzheimer Disease; Cognitive Function; Executive Function-Evaluation; Dementia; Rating Scale