ABSTRACT
Diagnosis and the issues surrounding it are a significant focus for both clinicians and researchers. The Holy Grail in dementia research is discovering a test that will enable the condition to be identified at its very early stages (or even before symptoms manifest) to maximize the positive effects of treatment. The GP often takes this first step along the diagnosis route. As seen in the previous chapter, specialized assessments are available, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. However, the entire assessment process starts with a conversation with both patient and relatives. Concerns around memory problems increasing with age are prevalent. Although dementia is clearly not an inevitable part of normal ageing (see Chapter 2), in the public’s mind, this fear is firmly rooted.
