Objective: The importance of obtaining an accurate and early diagnosis for dementia is now becoming recognized. Neuroimaging, hematologic tests, CSF and genetic markers to identify dementia have been sought for many years, with many candidates proposal. Several diagnostic tests now show utility in identifying patients with dementia. This study was performed to verify the guidelines on diagnostic evaluation of dementia in Korea.
Methods: The subjects in this study were 52 psychiatrists, neurologists, and family physicians who were members of the Korean Geriatrics Society, the Korean society of gerontology, the Korean gerontological society, and Korean Association for Geriatric psychiatry and in charge of demented elderly people. The questionnaire segment consists of neuroimaging, hematologic, CSF and genetic tests to evaluate of patients with dementia.
Results: A number of laboratory tests (including complete blood count with ESR, glucose, electrolyte, calcium, kidney and liver function test, thyroid function tests, vitamin B12 level, syphilis serology) and structural neuroimaging with either CT or MRI scan are recommanded as routine initial evaluation of patients with dementia. CSF and genetic tests is not recommended for routine use in the diagnostic evaluation of dementia.
Conclusion: This survey supports the necessity of a hematologic and neuroimaging tests under most circumstances at the time of the initial dementia assessment. Further research is needed to improve the validity of clinical diagnosis of dementia, as well as determine the utility of various instruments of neuroimaging, biological testing in increasing diagnostic accuracy.
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