Research with Diagnostic Drawings for Normal and Alzheimer's Subjects

This study designed and tested a battery of drawing techniques with a scoring methodology appropriate for investigation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The battery was adapted from previous experience in the field of projective drawings and the scoring was developed from characteristics hypothesized to be present in an Alzheimer's population. The variables as a whole and most of the hypothesized drawing features provided significant discrimination between the age-matched controls and Alzheimer subjects (p < 0.0001). The relative importance of individual variables were interpreted as they might describe AD deficits. Capability to discriminate was also provided at p < 0.0001 by objective measures of use of space and size of the drawn objects. This might suggest a possible graphic process analogous to micrographia. The interrater reliability as measured by the Kappa Coefficient was in excess of 90%.