Overview

Evidence-based practice guidelines, such as the American Psychiatric Association's 2007 Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, strongly support early assessment and intervention. Yet the majority of people with dementia go undiagnosed, or recognition is often delayed until a behavioral crisis has occurred.

Most patients with dementia receive care from a primary care practitioner. Primary care physicians have given a number of reasons for missing or overlooking a dementia diagnosis, including concerns about possible stigmatization of patients with the diagnosis and doubts about the usefulness or desirability of early diagnosis. But an early, accurate diagnosis is beneficial because it can help people with Alzheimer’s and their families to:

- Begin early treatment to slow functional decline and delay nursing home placement
- Plan for the future
- Take care of financial and legal matters
- Develop support networks
- Get involved in clinical trials

Review this series of short online activities to learn more about the recognition and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in primary care settings!

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

- Identify barriers to the diagnosis and documentation of dementia by physicians
- State the current percentage of US survey participants in favor of dementia diagnosis disclosure and how it compares to other surveys over the past 20 years
 - Explain the effect of diagnostic disclosure on the incidence of depression and anxiety