• To understand the similarities between the early symptoms of dementia and those of other healthcare conditions
• To recognise some of the challenges in making an accurate and timely diagnosis of dementia
• To learn why receiving a timely diagnosis can enhance access to treatment for people with dementia
Receiving a timely and accurate diagnosis of dementia is essential to enable people to access vital treatment and support, reduce the risk of premature deterioration, and empower families to live well and plan. However, there are several challenges associated with obtaining a timely diagnosis, which have been exacerbated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This article outlines some of these challenges, describes the similarities between early symptoms of dementia and other health conditions and details the dementia diagnosis pathway in primary care. The authors use a case study to demonstrate this pathway.
Primary Health Care. 33, 6, 28-33. doi: 10.7748/phc.2023.e1794
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone
Moore A, Goss-Hill B, Harrison Dening K (2023) Recognition and assessment of dementia in a primary care setting. Primary Health Care. doi: 10.7748/phc.2023.e1794
Published online: 12 April 2023
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