Évaluation de la capacité à dessiner spontanément et en copie dans la maladie d'Alzheimer modérée

We evaluated the capacity of 16 patients with Alzheimer's disease and 20 controls to draw six objects, both spontaneously and by copying. Three manufactured and three biological objects were used to establish a quantitative score (0 to 26) and a qualitative score (0 to 12). Time to complete the drawing did not distinguish between patients and controls. All subjects drew faster spontaneously than when copying. Qualitative scores were lower in patients for both conditions. Different performance patterns were noted depending on whether spontaneous drawing was possible or not or whether copying yielded improvement or not. Prior assessment using simple tasks would probably be useful before proposing drawing exercises for cognitive rehabilitation activities in Alzheimer's patients.