Clinical check list for diagnosis of dementia

Abstract

A clinical check list for testing speech and parietal function as well as memory was used on 200 people admitted to a psychogeriatric assessment unit and repeated four to six weeks later, to see whether those with true dementias could be identified. The finding of errors in all three areas, particularly at the second test, accurately predicted cases with a poor outcome at six months follow-up. Amnesia alone was an unreliable indicator of dementia.