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Global
Deterioration Scale (GDS)
Some
health-care professionals use the Global Deterioration Scale,
also called the Reisberg Scale, to measure progression of
Alzheimer's disease. This scale divides Alzheimer's disease
into seven stages of decreasing ability.
Stage
1: No cognitive decline
- Experiences
no problems in daily living.
Stage
2: Very mild cognitive decline
- Forgets
names and locations of objects.
- May
have trouble finding words.
Stage
3: Mild cognitive decline
- Has
difficulty travelling to new locations.
- Has
difficulty handling problems at work.
Stage
4: Moderate cognitive decline
- Has
difficulty with complex tasks (finances, shopping, planning
dinner for guests).
Stage
5: Moderately severe cognitive decline
- Needs
help to choose clothing.
- Needs
prompting to bathe.
Stage
6: Severe cognitive decline
- Needs
help putting on clothing.
- Requires
assistance bathing; may have a fear of bathing.
- Has
decreased ability to use the toilet or is incontinent.
Stage
7: Very severe cognitive decline
- Vocabulary
becomes limited, eventually declining to single words.
- Loses
ability to walk and sit.
- Becomes
unable to smile.
Modified
from Global Deterioration Scale, Reisberg, 1982.
Reisberg, B., Ferris, S.H., de Leon, M.J., and Crook, T.,
American Journal of Psychiatry, 139:1136-1139, 1982.
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