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Providing care for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is a long-term commitment on the part of the primary care physician.
From diagnosis to after death, the physician will be called upon to support and treat not only the individual with the disease, but frequently the caregiver as well.
This section includes resources and information to help you provide early diagnosis and support, throughout the continuum of the disease, for both patients and their caregivers.
Early diagnosis
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Guidelines
3rd Canadian Consensus Conference on Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia
Summary of recommended cognitive screening tests1
| Instrument |
Reference |
Time (min) |
Cut-off score/Total score |
| Mini-mental state examination |
Folstein et al., 1975 |
7-10 |
≤23-26/30 |
| Hopkins verbal learning test – total recall |
Frank and Byrne, 2000 |
5 |
≤14-18/36 |
| Memory impairment screen |
Buschke et al., 1999 |
4 |
≤4/8 |
| Clock drawing test |
Royall et al., 1992 |
1-3 |
Scoring methods varied |
| Cambridge cognitive examination |
Lolk et al., 2000 |
20 |
≤80/107 |
| Modified mini-mental state examination |
McDowell et al., 1997 |
10-15 |
≤77-86/100 |
| Community screening interview for dementia |
Hall et al., 1993 |
30 |
Formula used |
| Montreal cognitive assessment |
Nasreddine et al., 2005 |
10 |
≤25/30 |
Behavioural neurology assessment
Long form |
Darvesh et al., 2005 |
40-50 |
≤182/250 |
Behavioural neurology assessment
Short form |
Darvesh et al., 2005 |
20-30 |
≤82/114 |
The progression of Alzheimer's disease
Overview
Early stage
Middle stage
Late stage
End of life
Global deterioration scale
Feedback
Please feel free to email us to submit your feedback and share useful information and resources with your peers.
Footnote
- "Assessing patients complaining of memory impairment", Geriatrics & Aging (April 08, volume 11, number 3), Dr. M. Masellis and Dr. S. E. Black.
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