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Objectives: To determine and prioritise what information dementia caregivers wish to know at the time of diagnosis and later on in the illness, and in what form this information should be presented., Method: 100 carers were recruited from community mental health teams (CMHT) and a memory clinic (MC). A semi-structured Carer Interview was administered covering possible symptoms and management., Results: Carers requested as much information as possible. There was no significant difference between CMHTs and the MC. After carers prioritised the information they wished to receive, we proposed a 'rule of threes'. At diagnosis, carers want information about what dementia is, medications available and behavioural and psychiatric symptoms of dementia. In an early follow-up appointment, they want information about services, the course of the illness and what to do in a crisis. In a later follow-up appointment, they want information about support groups, benefits, and financial and legal issues. At a later stage, they want information about psychological therapies, the effects of the illness on carers and complementary treatments. Most carers wish to receive information from a health professional, backed up by written information., Conclusions: The 'rule of threes' enables health professionals to make informed decisions about primacy of information and strategies to prevent carers becoming overloaded. Information should also be provided in written form and from support groups., (Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Epidemiological studies of dementia subtypes have revealed widely varying distribution rates. There are almost no published community prevalence data for dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) or the frontal lobe dementias (FLD)., Aims: To identify the distribution of dementia subtypes in a representative community population of older people., Method: People aged > or = 65 years in randomised enumeration districts in Islington, north London, were screened using a reliable and valid questionnaire. People screened as having dementia were assessed in detail and diagnoses were made according to standard diagnostic criteria., Results: Of 1085 people interviewed, 107 (9.86%) met screening criteria for dementia. Diagnoses were made for 72 people (67.3%). Distribution of subtypes varied according to the criteria used; the best-validated criteria yielding: Alzheimer's disease 31.3%; vascular dementia 21.9%; DLB 10.9%; and FLD 7.8%., Conclusions: Alzheimer's disease is confirmed as the most common cause of dementia in older people, followed by vascular dementia. However, DLB and FLD occur sufficiently often to be seen frequently in clinical practice and should be incorporated into future editions of standard diagnostic criteria.