Patients were clinically classified in stages 4,5, or 6 of the Global Deterioration
Scale (GDS) [20]. Patients with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) [21]
scores over 23/30 were included if all other inclusion criteria were satisfied.
A further inclusion criterion was that the responsible caregiver must live with
the patient, be directly involved in the patient's care, and be reliable to informo
Exclusion criteria were delirium, active diseases that could affect cognitive functions
either systemic (e.g., diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism) or neurologic
(e.g., cortical or subcortical stroke, epilepsy, head injury), history of alcohol
or substance abuse, history of psychiatric disease previous to the onset of cognitive
decline (within the preceding 2 years before onset of dementia), or severe
sensorial deficits