# SCREENING FOR ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN A RURAL POPULATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY · 1992 · $1,222,367

## Abstract

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from the Applicant's Abstract):  The proposed study
will (1) determine the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a rural
population; (2) assess reliability and validity of a diagnostic screening
protocol in predicting cases of probable AD without extensive diagnostic
evaluation; (3) assess the reliability of each component test in the
diagnostic screening protocol; (4) assess the validity of the Mini-Mental
State Examination (MMSE) alone in predicting cases of probable AD; (5) test
the hypothesis that a discriminant function derived from items of the MMSE
and selected demographic characteristics (e.g. age, race) will better
discriminate probable AD cases when used as screening instrument rather
than the full MMSE; (6) identify other issues that may compromise the
effectiveness of a diagnostic screening protocol among the rural elderly;
(7) obtain baseline survey information regarding a sample of the elderly
population of West Virginia (WV) as a basis for planning future strategies
for case finding and management of AD statewide.  Such baseline information
will also be an invaluable resource for future studies of the longitudinal
adverse and risk factors of AD and other dementing illnesses among the
elderly.

This is a two-stage, population-based study.  The target population is all
individuals 65 years and older residing in three West Virginia counties.  A
computer tape of Medicare beneficiaries will be used to identify eligible
subjects.  Lay interviewers will conduct stage 1 household diagnostic
screening interviews, comprising various diagnostic components.  All
subjects screening positive for probable AD and a comparable number of
subjects with negative screening results will participate in the stage 2
clinical evaluation, comprising physical examination, laboratory tests, and
special diagnostic procedures for diagnosing probable AD according to
NINCDS criteria and the preliminary findings of the principal investigator.
Validity of the diagnostic screening protocol and its component tests will
be assessed using criterion diagnoses determined by research physicians
based on their review of results of the stage 2 clinical evaluation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3121364
- **Project number:** 5R01AG009519-02
- **Recipient organization:** WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** M7PNRH24BBM8
- **Principal Investigator:** ROBERT KEEFOVER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $1,222,367
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-06-01 → 1994-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3121364

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3121364, SCREENING FOR ALZHEIMERS DISEASE IN A RURAL POPULATION (5R01AG009519-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3121364. Licensed CC0.

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