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Considering the proportion of the elderly among the total population, prevalence of dementia in the group, and social burden for the management of demented patients, dementia must be a public health problem. Neuroscience, which has made an incredible advance applicable to neuropsychiatry during the last few decades, contributes much to gaining new insight into pathophysiology of dementia as well as to its treatment. The early diagnosis of dementia is increasingly important for these reasons. However, it is controversial which of 1) population screening of the elderly, 2) targeting high risk groups, and 3) identification of the elderly with possible mild cognitive impairment is best one . The screening test on the high risk groups and/or the elderly with possible mild cognitive impairment is recommended for the early identification of dementia, with keeping in mind the dementia prevalence, availability of screening tests, possibility of treatment, and social burden resulting from delayed therapeutic intervention. (J Korean Acad Fam Med 2004;25:653-660)
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