The Identification and Intervention for Dementia in Elderly Africans (IDEA) Project

IDEA cognitive screen - a culturally adapted dementia screening tool. Post-screening, the IDEA study employed the principles of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), a non-pharmacological, group treatment for mild to moderate dementia which aims to delay declines in cognition and quality of life through themed activities. Evidence shows that CST can be effectively delivered by non-specialist health care workers, and has the potential to be used as a non-pharmacological and cost effective disease management strategy. The research team also developed and validated the IDEA-IADL scale, to measure the instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). This was the first time such a scale has been developed for use in SSA, and it improved the accuracy of the IDEA cognitive screen and was shown to be a valid measure of dementia.