Evaluating questions used to assess cognitive orientation for very old adults.

A number of standardized tools have been developed to assist in the diagnosis of suspected dementia in aged people. In this study, 9 orientation questions were administered to 186 elderly Koreans, aged 60 to 108 years. Analysis showed a significantly inverse relation (r = -.70) between their ages and their performance on the questionnaire. The finding raises questions about the suitability of using standard measures of orientation with very old or with uneducated persons.