Dementia screening in primary care: should we or should we not?

  1. Lookup NU author(s)
  2. Professor Carol Brayne
  3. Christopher Fox
Author(s)Brayne C, Boustani M, Fox C, on behalf of the Dementia Screening Collaborative, Robinson L, Katona C, Moniz Cook E, Iliffe S, Hanson L, Hendrie H
Publication type Article
JournalJournal of the American Medical Association
Year2007
Volume298
Issue20
Pages2409-2411
ISSN (print)0098-7484
ISSN (electronic)1538-3598
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Diagnosing dementia in the clinical setting currently depends on case finding, in which the clinician tests or refers patients whom the clinician suspects may have dementia based on symptoms or caregivers' concerns. However, many have argued that systematic screening should be introduced to enable early detection of dementia, allowing patients and families to make decisions regarding transportation, living arrangements, and other aspects of care when the patient is functioning at the highest possible level. Legislation signed in 2005 was designed to make memory screening more accessible. Some groups have suggested including a memory screening in the "welcome to Medicare" examination, several pharmaceutical companies have promoted regional screening efforts, the Alzheimer's Disease Foundation has declared November 16 "National Alzheimer's Screening Day," and some researchers have advocated for dementia screening among individuals aged 75 years and older.
PublisherAmerican Medical Association
URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.298.20.2409
DOI10.1001/jama.298.20.2409
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