Affected persons may also show signs of psychosis and delirium.
Table of contents |
2 Types 3 External links |
Diagnosis
Proper differential diagnosis between the types of dementia (see below) will require at the least, referral to a specialist, e.g. a geriatrician or neurologist. However, to establish dementia as a possibility the Abbreviated Mental Test Score may be used.
A score of less than six on this test suggests dementia. Routine blood tests should be performed to rule out treatable causes.
Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS)
Ask these questions of the patient. Each question correctly answered scores one point.
Score What is your age? What is the time to the nearest hour? Give the patient an address, and ask them to repeat it at the end of the test What is the year? What is the name of the hospital or number of the residence where the patient is situated? Can the patient recognise two persons (the doctor, nurse, home help, etc.) What is your date of birth? What year did the first world war begin (adjust this for a world event the patient would have known during childhood)? What is the name of the present monarch (head of state, etc.)? Count backwards from 20 down to 1? Types
The most common types of dementia are as follows and vary according to the history and the presentation of the disease:
Approximately 10% of a sample of suspected dementia cases, will have a potentially treatable cause. These include:
or in very rare cases
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