Recognition And Initial Assessment Of Alzheimer S Disease And Related Dementias

Dementia in the adult U.S. population is a devastating disorder that is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed in its early stages. Despite the current lack of unequivocally effective treatment, recognition of early-stage dementia may offer substantial benefits. These include avoidance of inappropriate treatment related to misdiagnosis and time for the patient and family to address issues of financial, legal, and medical care planning. This Clinical Practice Guideline is intended to help primary care providers recognize and assess Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in the early stages. Differential diagnosis is beyond the scope of the guideline; however, the guidline contains a list of resources for further clinical evaluation once probable dementia has been identified.

Dementia in the adult U.S. population is a devastating disorder that is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed in its early stages. Despite the current lack of unequivocally effective treatment, recognition of early-stage dementia may offer substantial benefits. These include avoidance of inappropriate treatment related to misdiagnosis and time for the patient and family to address issues of financial, legal, and medical care planning. This Clinical Practice Guideline is intended to help primary care providers recognize and assess Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in the early stages. Differential diagnosis is beyond the scope of the guideline; however, the guidline contains a list of resources for further clinical evaluation once probable dementia has been identified.

The Folstein mini-mental state examination (MMSE) is the most widely used screening test of cognition in older adults. The Standardized mini-mental state examination (SMMSE) provides clear, explicit administration and scoring guidelines.