NTG-EDSD
What is the NTG-EDSD?
The NTG released the NTG-Early Detection Screen for Dementia (NTG-EDSD) which was developed in response to requests by family caregivers and agencies for a tool useful to record observations of changes in function.
The NTG-EDSD is used in starting that critical conversation with (and among) clinical personnel as to whether their observations merit more explicit assessment for MCI or dementia or -- alternatively – signal behaviors that may be amenable to intervention and remediation.
NTG - Early Detection and Screen for Dementia (NTG-EDSD)
About the NTG-EDSD
The NTG-EDSD, an administrative screening tool, is useful as part of the information collected in conjunction with the Affordable Care Act’s annual wellness visit and cognitive impairment assessment. The NTG-EDSD has been recognized as a useful dementia symptoms or indicators screening tool in the guidelines issued by the Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome Workgroup and published in JAMA [2020, 324(15),1543-1556]. It has been found of use in studies of mild cognitive impairment, as well - see Silverman et al., 2021 (JARID, doi: 10.1111/jar.12849). Additionally, an international survey of clinicians showed strong value of the NTG-EDSD for screening and preliminary assessment purposes (see Hillerstrom et al., Alzheimers & Dementia, 2025; doi:10.1002/alz.70356).
Although the NTG-EDSD was originally issued without a scoring protocol, subsequent research has proposed ways that the information gleaned may point toward MCI or dementia. As the NTG-EDSD relies on concern-based scoring rather than fixed numerical thresholds, the number of concerns can be used to provide for an quantitative outcome. Silverman et al. (2021) found that the presence of ≥2 concerns (specificity: 0.640, sensitivity: 0.833) suggests MCI, while ≥3 concerns (specificity: 0.730, sensitivity: 0.895) and ≥5 concerns (specificity: 0.802, sensitivity: 0.868) indicate progression toward dementia. Concerns reported in memory and language domains show the strongest diagnostic power, with specificity (0.802) and sensitivity (0.895) for dementia. The NTG-EDSD is highly adaptable, however, as it relies on informant-reported symptoms this may introduce subjective variability.
The NTG-EDSD is also useful for collective discussions and dementia care planning involving families and care providers. A presentation by Dr. Lucy Esralew, of NTG's Board of Directors and Chair of the NTG's Clinical Care Committee, explains its basis and how it can be applied via a set of informative slides. Click here to access her presentation.
The specialized information provided by the NTG-EDSD can aid community practitioners when examining and assessing adults with intellectual disability. The NTG-EDSD is designed to be completed by family caregivers and staff at local agencies and organizations.
Note: The EDSD has been slightly modified as of May 2024 to eliminate the IQ range scores due a change in the range intervals; the current form only shows the IQ categories.
Links to NTG-EDSD Webpages
The Arc
CAUNJ.org
HealthMatters Program
WAI.WISC
3DN.USNW.AU
Workshops/Trainings about the NTG-EDSD
A number of organizations have opted to use the NTG-EDSD for administrative screening and enabling staff to construct dementia care plans. They, or their administrative partners, have organized training to build capacity among staff and caregivers to use the NTG-EDSD for screening and care planning. Listed are a few examples of such trainings.
Wisconsin Alzheimer Institute at the University of Wisconsin
Screening for Dementia in Persons with an Intellectual Developmental Disability
Held January 16, 2019
Early Detection of Changes Associated with Cognitive Decline in Adults with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
Held March 12, 2020
Community Access Unlimited (CAUNJ), Elizabeth,New Jersey
National Task Group Early Detection Screen for Dementia (NTG-EDSD)
Presentation by Lucy Esralew, Ph.D.
Held July 2019
Natl_Task_Force-Early_Detection_Dementia_PPT-1.pdf (caunj.org)
