Dementia: timely diagnosis and early intervention

How is dementia diagnosed?The role of primary careGeneral practitioners are often the first point of contact for patients who are worried that they may have dementia.The role of primary care is to exclude a potentially treatable illness or reversible cause of the “dementia”-for example, depression, vitamin B 12 deficiency, or thyroid disturbance; refer for specialist assessment, especially those with unusual symptoms (neurological, psychiatric, or behavioural changes) or those with major risk factors (for example, important medical comorbidities, psychosocial problems, harm to self); and ensure