J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.
2006 Jun;10(1):41-47.
Survey of Neuroimaging and Biological Screening Tests for Early Detection of Dementia
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Neuropsychiatry, Inje University College of Medicine, Ilsanpaik Hospital, Goyang, Korea.
- 2Department of Neuropsychiatry, Inje University College of Medicine, Sanggye Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Psychiatry, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Seoul Dongjakgu Health Family Support Center, Korea.
- 5Department of Neuropsychiatry, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea. hanyjung@schbc.ac.kr
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
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.
Keyword
MeSH Terms
-
Aged
Blood Cell Count
Calcium
Dementia*
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Tests, Routine
Early Diagnosis
Genetic Markers
Geriatric Psychiatry
Geriatrics
Glucose
Hematologic Tests
Humans
Kidney
Korea
Liver Function Tests
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Mass Screening*
Neuroimaging*
Physicians, Family
Psychiatry
Surveys and Questionnaires
Syphilis
Thyroid Function Tests
Vitamin B 12
Calcium
Genetic Markers
Glucose
Vitamin B 12
