Cognitive Diagnostic Tests for Dementia in Primary Care

Dementia has emerged as a critical global public health issue, especially in rapidly aging societies, such as South Korea, where the number of patients with dementia is expected to rise significantly.Early diagnosis of dementia is essential for slowing its progression and improving the quality of life of patients and their families.We review cognitive screening tools used in primary care for dementia diagnosis, including the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Mini-Cog, and the Korean-developed Cognitive Impairment Screening Test.The findings show that early dementia detection in primary care settings face several challenges due to nonspecific early symptoms, limited consultation time, and the complexity of cognitive assessments.To improve dementia diagnosis in primary care, we suggest implementing regular educational programs and developing policies that support these initiatives.By addressing the above challenges, primary care providers can play a crucial role in the early detection of dementia, ultimately reducing the societal and economic burden associated with the disease.