ABSTRACT
This chapter is a comprehensive reference manual providing information on the Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS), which is an objective, clinician-administered cognitive screening test. The RUDAS has been used with dementia populations, including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Information available to date suggests that the RUDAS meets its aim of being a culture-free cognitive screening test. The RUDAS was developed within a multicultural context, drawing on a geographic region in south-western Sydney, Australia, in which more than 80 languages are spoken and 40% of the population was born in a non-English speaking country. A brief history of the instrument's development is provided, along with a description of item content and administration/scoring procedures. Psychometric properties are reviewed and a critical commentary is provided. Key references are cited and in most cases the actual scale is included, giving the reader easy access to the instrument.
