Purpose: This study provides preliminary evidence for the acceptability, reliability, and validity of the new Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS), a content and psychometric update to the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Test. Design and Methods: Traditional scale development methods were used to generate items and evaluate their psychometric properties in a variety of subsamples. Results: The final 30-item, true/false scale takes approximately 5–10 min to complete and covers risk factors, assessment and diagnosis, symptoms, course, life impact, caregiving, and treatment and management. Preliminary results suggest that the ADKS has adequate reliability (test–retest and internal consistency) and validity (content, predictive, concurrent, and convergent). Implications: The ADKS is designed for use in both applied and research contexts, capable of assessing knowledge about Alzheimer's disease among laypeople, patients, caregivers, and professionals.

We examined personality changes reported by a collateral source on the Blessed Dementia Scale in people who were nondemented when they entered a longitudinal study. Of the 108 participants examined here, 68 received a clinical diagnosis of dementia at some point after entry into the study. The other 40 participants died and came to autopsy with a clinical diagnosis of no dementia; however, 14 received a neuropathological diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. The results indicate that initial personality changes often occur early, even earlier than clinical diagnosis. Individuals without a clinical diagnosis who showed presence of the disease at autopsy experienced personality changes comparable with those of individuals who had received a clinical diagnosis. Personality changes may aid in the early detection of dementia of the Alzheimer type, which could facilitate early treatment.

Purpose: The ethical and practical issues in disclosing a dementia diagnosis remain subjects of some debate. In this review of the literature we document previous opinion and practice in the area of diagnostic disclosure. Design and Methods: We identified sources for this review with a MEDLINE and PsycINFO database search, followed by collection of additional articles from reference lists. Results: Across sources we were able to identify a broad list of arguments both for and against diagnostic disclosure. We briefly discuss some of the ethical principles that undergird those reasons. Implications: Practice guidelines and professional opinion regarding disclosure appear to depart from the actual experience reported by clinicians, patients, and family members. At a more detailed level, process issues in disclosure, such as who is told, how and what they are told, and the impact of disclosure, are poorly understood. Sensitivity to individual differences may promote an optimal approach to disclosure. Research in this area is sparse and often contradictory, and throughout the review we propose research questions that, when answered, could clarify issues in disclosure that are essential to sound dementia care.

Accurate knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is essential to address the public health impact of dementia. This study examined AD knowledge in 794 people who completed the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale and questions about their background and experience with AD. Whereas overall knowledge was fair, there was significant variability across groups. Knowledge was highest among professionals working in the dementia field, lower for dementia caregivers and older adults, and lowest for senior center staff and undergraduate students. Across groups, respondents knew the most about assessment, treatment, and management of AD and knew the least about risk factors and prevention. Greater knowledge was associated with working in the dementia field, having family members with AD, attending a related class or support group, and exposure to dementia-related information from multiple sources. Understanding where gaps in dementia knowledge exist can guide education initiatives to increase disease awareness and improve supportive services.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought age bias and the unmet mental health needs of older adults into bold relief. Even before the pandemic, the psychological needs of older adults often went unaddressed, or were poorly addressed by a system that lacks an adequate number of providers and insufficiently integrates geropsychological services across care settings. In the decade ahead, the number of older adults in the United States will continue to grow, with the potential for expanded demand and contracted service options. Life changes that typically occur with aging will interact with societal upheavals (pandemic, civil unrest, economic inequality) to exacerbate the mental health needs in the current cohort of older adults and the "near old." At the same time, ageism, inequitable access, and financial and policy constraints may limit health care access. Following a review of current demographic and epidemiological data, we describe several trends that will affect the prevalence of mental health issues among older adults and how mental health care is delivered, and we discuss their implications for education, research, and practice. For both personal and professional reasons, all psychologists can benefit from understanding these trends in aging. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).