Identification of a Cascade of Changes in Activities of Daily Living Preceding Short-Term Clinical Deterioration in Mild Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia via Lead-Lag Analysis

Abstract

Background: Cognitive functions and activities of daily living (ADL) become increasingly impaired with progressing Alzheimer's disease. However, the temporal dynamics of this decline are inconsistent. Objective: To gain insight into the classical temporal cascade of specific cognitive and ADL changes, which may aid in improving detection of an impending clinical deterioration in patients, and to select ADL items and tests most sensitive to change in a specific disease stage.