The Eating Behavior Scale. A simple method of assessing functional ability in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Health care providers and family members need practical methods of assessing functional skills of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). There are neuropsychological tests that identify areas of function and dysfunction in the brain, but discrepancies have been noted between test scores and functional behaviors in activities of daily living (ADLs). The Eating Behavior Scale (EBS) was developed to measure functional ability during meals. A sample of 30 patients with probable AD were observed using the EBS during two meals on two different days. There was a strong negative correlation between meal duration and the EBS score. That is, the lower the EBS score, the longer the time required to complete the meol. Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) scores were positively correlated with EBS scores. Patients with higher MMSE scores and less time since diagnosis tended to have higher EBS scores, indicating greater independence in eating.