Improving the detection of dementia in primary care: A case control study

Robinson, L;, Bamford, C;, Bond, J;, Eccles, M

doi:10.1093/geront/42.Special_Issue_I.1

Improving the detection of dementia in primary care: A case control study

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Martin Eccles, Claire Bamford ORCiD, Professor John Bond, Professor Dame Louise Robinson

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Abstract

While early diagnosis of dementia is needed to ensure patients benefit from new drug therapies, this presents a significant challenge for primary care physicians. Little is known about the patterns of use of primary care by patients prior to diagnosis of dementia and whether these might contribute to earlier diagnosis. A retrospective case-control design covering the five years prior to formal diagnosis of dementia is used to compare the frequency, characteristics and content of primary care consultations of people with dementia and age and sex matched controls. The extent to which findings are consistent across different types of dementia will be explored. The ways in which the findings could be used to develop practical tools to facilitate earlier diagnosis will be discussed.