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Cognitive screening for dementia in primary care: a systematic review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 July 2014

Juliana Emy Yokomizo ,
Sharon Sanz Simon  and
Cássio Machado de Campos Bottino
Juliana Emy Yokomizo*
Affiliation:
Old Age Research Group (PROTER), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Sharon Sanz Simon
Affiliation:
Old Age Research Group (PROTER), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Cássio Machado de Campos Bottino
Affiliation:
Old Age Research Group (PROTER), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Juliana Emy Yokomizo, MD Student, Researcher at Old Age Research Group (PROTER), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Rua Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785 – 3º Andar – CEAPESQ, Cerqueira César – São Paulo – SP – CEP: 05403-010, Brazil. Phone: (5511) 99579-8206; Fax: (5511) 2661-6973. Email: julianayokomizo@gmail.com.
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Abstract

Background:

Identifying dementia in primary care could minimize the impact of a late intervention; however, it shows high rates of misdiagnosis. One of the reasons seems to be the lack of knowledge of adequate cognitive screening instruments. This is a systematic review of the available instruments for the primary care context.

Method:

For this systematic review, articles were collected according to the following combined key terms: “cognitive screening” and “dementia” and “primary care” and “review”. Studies should be reviews focusing on cognitive screening instruments best used in primary care setting.

Results:

Thirteen reviews were selected. In total, it was considered 34 cognitive screening instruments. Half of the instruments can be applied in an adequate time-limit for primary care context. Memory is the most commonly assessed cognitive function (91%). Almost half of the tests are mentioned to have influence of education or cultural factors (44%).

Conclusion:

Tests such as 6CIT, AMT, GPCOG, Mini-Cog, MIS, MoCA, and STMS seem to be good alternatives to the use of the Mini-Mental State Examination when considering factors such as application time, sensitivity, specificity, and number of studies. However, there is a wide range of tests with different characteristics, therefore it is recommended that the professional gets some expertise in a few number of instruments in order to be able to choose which to use, or use in combination, depending on the setting and the profile of the patient.

Keywords

screeningprimary careneuropsychology
Type
Review Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 26 , Issue 11 , November 2014 , pp. 1783 - 1804
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2014 

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