Background
The assessment and management of dementia is complex.
General practitioners are often the first point of contact
for people with dementia, and their families. General
practitioners have a key role in providing quality primary
care in terms of the identification, assessment, provision of
information, referral and ongoing management.
Objective
This article discusses the role of the GP in the diagnosis
and management of people with dementia.
Discussion
It is important GPs are aware of the importance of early
detection of dementia. Dementia is a complex condition. It
develops slowly and early signs of dementia are very subtle.
Difficulty in detecting the transition between normal aging
and the onset of dementia and the lack of a definitive
diagnostic tool often precludes early diagnosis. Evidence
based recommendations are available to assist GPs in
the diagnosis and ongoing management of people with
dementia.
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