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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2009 Aug-Sep;24(4):313–321. doi: 10.1177/1533317509333903

Visuospatial Function is a Significant Contributor to Functional Status in Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease

Toshiya Fukui 1, Eiyai Lee 2
PMCID: PMC10846096  PMID: 19403740

Abstract

Background: Contribution of visuospatial abilities to the functional status in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been controversial. Aim: To address whether visuospatial abilities have independent association with functional measures in patients with AD. Methods: We regressed performances on a global cognitive (the revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale: HDSR), executive/ visuoconstruction (Clock drawing), visuoperception (Clock reading: CRT), simple visuoconstruction (figure copying), and frontal behavioral tasks on measures of basic and instrumental activities of daily living (BADL and IADL) in 57 patients (78.0 + 6.1 years) with AD of various severity (mean HDSR score: 16.0 + 5.9). We sought independent contributions of these visuospatial measures to functional status. Results: Performance on the CRT contributed significantly to BADL and IADL and the results of HDSR contributed to IADL. Results of figure copying related significantly to BADL especially in mild AD. Conclusion: Visuospatial ability is one of the important contributors to functional status.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, visuospatial function, executive function, Clock drawing test, Clock reading test, figure copying

Full Text

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Contributor Information

Toshiya Fukui, Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University Northern Yokohama Hospital, Yokohama, tfukui@med.showa-u.ac.jp .

Eiyai Lee, Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Clinical Welfare College, Tokyo Japan.

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