1. Recommendations of Swiss Memory Clinics for the Diagnosis of Dementia
- Author
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Bürge M, Bieri G, Brühlmeier M, Colombo F, Demonet JF, Felbecker A, Georgescu D, Gietl A, Brioschi Guevara A, Jüngling F, Kirsch E, Kressig RW, Kulic L, Monsch AU, Ott M, Pihan H, Popp J, Rampa L, Rüegger-Frey B, Schneitter M, Unschuld PG, von Gunten A, Weinheimer B, Wiest R, and Savaskan E
- Subjects
- Aged, Algorithms, Cognitive Dysfunction classification, Cognitive Dysfunction psychology, Cognitive Dysfunction therapy, Community Networks standards, Dementia classification, Dementia psychology, Dementia therapy, Diagnosis, Differential, Early Diagnosis, General Practice, Humans, Interdisciplinary Communication, Intersectoral Collaboration, Memory Disorders classification, Memory Disorders psychology, Memory Disorders therapy, Middle Aged, Neurodegenerative Diseases classification, Neurodegenerative Diseases psychology, Neurodegenerative Diseases therapy, Quality Assurance, Health Care standards, Switzerland, Cognitive Dysfunction diagnosis, Dementia diagnosis, Hospitals, Special standards, Memory Disorders diagnosis, Neurodegenerative Diseases diagnosis
- Abstract
The early diagnosis of subjectively perceived or externally anamnestically observed cognitive impairments is essential for proving neurodegenerative diseases or excluding treatable causes such as internal, neurological or psychiatric disorders. Only in this way is early treatment made possible. As part of the project 3.1 of the National Dementia Strategy 2014–2019 («Development and expansion of regional and networked centres of competence for diagnostics»), the association Swiss Memory Clinics (SMC) set itself the goal of developing quality standards for dementia clarification and improving the community-based care in this field. In these recommendations, general guidelines of diagnostics and individual examination possibilities are presented, and standards for the related processes are suggested. Individual areas such as anamnesis, clinical examination, laboratory examination, neuropsychological testing and neuroradiological procedures are discussed in detail as part of standard diagnostics, and supplementary examination methods for differential diagnosis considerations are portrayed. The most important goals of the SMC recommendations for the diagnosis of dementia are to give all those affected access to high-quality diagnostics, if possible, to improve early diagnosis of dementia and to offer the basic service providers and the employees of Memory Clinics a useful instrument for the clarification.
- Published
- 2018
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