ABSTRACT
At the stage when memory problems, other cognitive deficits or personality changes become more noticeable, some clients and their carers will seek guidance as to the nature and origin of these problems from their general practitioner. Most memory clinics provide a multidisciplinary, out-patient, specialist service in diagnosing and early detection of neuro-degenerative disorders. The specialist nature of the work carried out in a memory clinic is reflected in the multidisciplinary make-up of the team. Each clinic will have their own criteria as to which referrals they will accept. Assessment at a memory clinic can take from one hour to a whole day. Being referred to a specialist service because someone is experiencing memory or other related problems can be an anxiety-provoking experience for both the person and the carer. In order to exclude any underlying physical causes of the cognitive deficits, a physical examination will be carried out by the doctor in the team.
