Tunisia has experienced a considerable increase in degenerative diseases associated with aging including in particular dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

To evaluate the diagnostic procedures of cognitive impairments in general medicine and to identify obstacles concerning the early diagnosis of dementia in these patients.

An email questionnaire was sent to a sample of general practitioners (GPs) working in the Sfax region, Tunisia.

We received 55 answers. When facing a mnesic complaint, 20% of GPs perform a screening of cognitive disorders. Among reasons leading to early identification, memory complaints (76.4%) was the most mentioned by GPs surveyed. the Mini Mental State was the most used (34.5%) by general practitioners. Twenty-nine point one percent (29.1%) of physicians conducted a comparative assessment 6 to 12 months later if the initial evaluation was normal and 83.6% send the patient to a specialist in case of a detected disorder. For GPs, in 58.2% of the cases, the major impediment is the lack of time, in 32.7% of the cases it is patient's and family's denial and in 23.6% of the cases it is the absence of effective medical treatment. A cross analysis shows that GPs who have had further training in geriatrics have a better approach.

Our study shows a lack in the early identification of cognitive impairment in the elderly by GPs. Develop simple cognitive tests, reinforce training of doctors and promote research to develop new drugs would improve early diagnosis and management of dementia.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.