Cognition, dementia and delirium
Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR)
Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) — administration and scoring reference.
Reference information · Official-form reference
- Last content update
- 2026-10-26
- Clinical review
- Not independently reviewed
- Source jurisdiction
- See individual sources
- Coverage
- Official-form reference
| Field | Instrument context |
|---|---|
| Version | CDR; clinical staging; global score and sum of boxes distinct |
| Population | Older adults or relevant cognitive-disorder population; verify validation |
| Respondent | Trained clinician |
| Purpose | Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) — administration and scoring reference. |
Administration
A trained rater interviews the person and a knowledgeable informant and rates the specified cognitive/functional domains.
Scoring method
Domain ratings yield global staging by algorithm and a separate sum of boxes.
Interpretation & limitations
- Calculate global CDR using the official staging rules; report the sum of boxes separately when needed.
- Interpret the findings alongside the clinical interview, functioning, history and relevant physical assessment.
- Global CDR is not the mean or sum of domain ratings. Account for decline attributable to cognition rather than unrelated physical limitations.
- Use the original instrument and manual for item wording, rating anchors, missing-data rules and any normative conversions. This reference does not establish a diagnosis or select treatment.