The CDR is a 5-point scale used to characterize six domains of cognitive and functional performance applicable to Alzheimer disease and related dementias: Memory, Orientation, Judgment & Problem Solving, Community Affairs, Home & Hobbies, and Personal Care. The necessary information to make each rating is obtained through a semi-structured interview of the patient and a reliable informant or collateral source (e.g., family member).
The CDR table provides descriptive anchors that guide the clinician in making appropriate ratings based on interview data and clinical judgment. In addition to ratings for each domain, an overall CDR score may be calculated through the use of an algorithm. This score is useful for characterizing and tracking a patient's level of impairment/dementia:
0 = Normal
0.5 = Very Mild Dementia
1 = Mild Dementia
2 = Moderate Dementia
3 = Severe Dementia
Can I see a sample CDR Table?
Yes, click HERE and a new window will appear
containing a PDF of the CDR Table.
Is there literature available related to the CDR?
Interobserver Disagreements on Clinical Dementia Rating Assessment: Interpretation and Implications for Training. Rochelle E. Tractenberg, Kimberly Schafer, John C. Morris.
Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders 2001; 15: 155-161. Abstract Link
Morris JC. The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR): Current version and scoring rules. Neurology 1993; 43:2412-2414. Abstract Link
Hughes CP, Berg L, Danziger WL, Coben, LA, Martin, RL. A new clinical scale for the staging of dementia. Br J Psychiatry 1982; 140:566-572. Abstract Link
Berg L. Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). Psychopharmacol Bull 1988; 24:637-639. Abstract Link
Morris JC, Berg L, Coben LA, Rubin EH, Deuel R, Wittenborn R,et.al Clinical Dementia Rating. In Treating "Alzheimer's and other Dementias". M. Bergener and S. Finkel (eds) 1995, 338-346.
Morris JC, Ernesto C, Schafer K, et. al. Clinical Dementia Rating training and reliability in multicenter studies: The Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study experience. Neurology 1997; 48:1508-1510. Abstract Link
Rockwood K,Strang D, MacKnight C, et. al. Interrater reliability of the Clinical Dementia Rating in a multicenter trial. JAGS 2000; 48:558-559. Abstract Link
Morris JC, McKeel DW Jr, Fulling K, Torack RM, Berg L. Validation of clinical diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease. Ann Neurol 1988; 24:17-22. Abstract Link
Burke WJ, Miller JP, Rubin EH, et. al. Reliability of the Washington University Clinical Dementia Rating. Arch Neurol 1988; 45:31-32. Abstract Link
Berg L. Clinical Dementia Rating [correspondence]. Br J Psychiatry 1984; 145:339. Abstract Link
Berg L, Miller JP, Storandt M, et. al. Mild senile dementia of the Alzheimer type: 2. Longitudinal assessment. Ann Neurol 1988; 23:477-484. Abstract Link
McCulla MM, Coats M, Van Fleet N, Duchek J, Grant E, Morris JC. Reliability of clinical nurse specialists in the staging of dementia. Arch Neurol 1989; 46:1210-1211. Abstract Link
