Question

Can you name and describe the stages of the Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) scale and the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS)?

Answer 1

The FAST and GDS are both tools to assess the stages of functional and cognitive decline, respectively, in dementia. The FAST scale has seven stages ranging from no difficulties to very severe decline with loss of verbal and motor skills, while GDS also has seven stages, from no cognitive decline to a very severe cognitive decline needing full-time care.

Step-by-step explanation:

Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) Scale

The Functional Assessment Staging (FAST) scale is a tool used to evaluate the functional decline in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. It consists of the following seven stages:

1. No difficulties: Normal adult. No functional decline.
2. Very mild changes: The person complains of forgetfulness.
3. Mild decline: Others notice deficits in demanding job settings. Instrumental activities of daily living show subtle impairments.
4. Moderate decline: Patient requires assistance in choosing proper attire.
5. Moderately severe decline: Patient requires help dressing, bathing, and with toileting activities.
6. Severe decline: Patient requires help with feeding. Speech ability declines.
7. Very severe decline: Loss of verbal and motor skills. Non-ambulatory, urinary and fecal incontinence.

Global Deterioration Scale (GDS)

The Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), also known as the Reisberg Scale, rates a person's level of cognitive decline. It includes the following stages:

1. No cognitive decline: Normal function.
2. Very mild cognitive decline: Forgetfulness.
3. Mild cognitive decline: Noticeable deficits in demanding job settings or social settings.
4. Moderate cognitive decline: Clear-cut deficits in patient interviews. Decreased knowledge of current and recent events, personal history begins to deteriorate.
5. Moderately severe cognitive decline: Major gaps in memory, assistance required for daily activities.
6. Severe cognitive decline: Only fragmentary knowledge remains, losing track of the environment.
7. Very severe cognitive decline: All verbal abilities are lost. Patient cannot survive without assistance.