Validation of the "Perceptions Regarding PRE-Symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease Screening" (PRE-ADS) Questionnaire in the German Population: Attitudes, Motivations, and Barriers to Pre-Symptomatic Dementia Screening

Overview

Journal J Alzheimers Dis

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialties Geriatrics
Neurology

Date 2024 Jan 8

PMID 38189757

Authors

Ioanna Antigoni Angelidou

Hannah Stocker

Konrad Beyreuther

Birgit Teichmann

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Attitudes, motivations, and barriers to pre-symptomatic screening for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the general population are unclear, and validated measurement tools are lacking.

Objective: Translation and validation of the German version of the "Perceptions regarding pRE-symptomatic Alzheimer's Disease Screening" (PRE-ADS) questionnaire.

Methods: A convenience sample (N = 256) was recruited via an online platform. Validation of the PRE-ADS-D consisted of assessments of reliability, structural validity using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and construct validity using known-group tests. A subscale "Acceptability of Screening", with 5 PRE-ADS-D items, was extracted to measure acceptance of screening in clinical practice. The STROBE checklist was used for reporting.

Results: EFA revealed a three-factor model for the PRE-ADS-D. Acceptable to good internal consistency was found for the 25-item scale (α= 0.78), as well as for the three factors "Concerns about Screening" (α= 0.85), "Intention to be Screened" (α= 0.87), and "Preventive Health Behaviors" (α= 0.81). Construct validity was confirmed for both the 25-item PRE-ADS-D and the "Acceptability of Screening" scale (α= 0.91). Overall, 51.2% of the participants showed a preference for screening. Non-parametric tests were conducted to further explore group differences of the sample.

Conclusions: The PRE-ADS-D is a reliable and valid tool to measure attitudes, motives, and barriers regarding pre-symptomatic dementia screening in the German-speaking general population. Additionally, the subscale "Acceptability of Screening" demonstrated good construct validity and reliability, suggesting its promising potential as a practical tool in clinical practice.

Citing Articles

Attitudes toward pre-symptomatic screening for Alzheimer's dementia in five European countries: a comparison of family members of people with Alzheimer's dementia non-family members.

Angelidou I, Makri M, Beyreuther K, Rovira M, Despoti A, Engelborghs S Front Genet. 2024; 14:1305107.

PMID: 38162684 PMC: 10757380. DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1305107.

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