Alzheimer’s and other dementias

A unique "blueprint" for the diagnosis and treatment of dementia is now available to family doctors, who provide the majority of care to patients with Alzheimer’s and other dementia in Canada. This new "made in Canada" approach provides family practitioners with 48 recommendations developed by a group of 38 Canadian experts. The guidelines reflect the conclusions of the Canadian Consensus Conference on Dementia held in Montreal last year.

The recommendations address the full range of caring for patients with dementia, including: early recognition, the importance of careful history and examination in making a positive diagnosis, essential laboratory tests, the disclosure of diagnosis, the importance of monitoring and supporting caregivers, managing behavioural disturbances, detecting and reporting unsafe driving. They also cover pharmacological treatment, with particular emphasis on "cognitive enhancing" agents.