ED Dementia Screening

Dementia

Diagnosing dementia constitutes "memory loss" in addition to one of the following:

• Apraxia (difficulty executing motor tasks)
• Aphasia (language impairment)
• Agnosia (difficulty recognising familiar objects)
• Loss of executive function (planning, organising)

More than 50% of the patients presenting to Emergency Department have dementia and in about 3/4 the of the patients, the diagnosis is not yet established. Patients with a new diagnosis of dementia may have several implications on continuation of care as dementia can be associated with poor drug compliance, self-neglect, depression, suicidal risk. It is paramount to discuss these concerns with social services prior to discharging these patients. 

Mini-Cog Assessment 

1. Ask the patient to repeat and then remember 3 unrelated words (ex. apple table tree)
2. Give the patient a piece of paper with a circle on it
3. Instruct the patient to place numbers on it to represent the face of a clock. After the patient puts the numbers on the clock face, ask him to draw the hands of the clock to read any specific time
4. Ask the patient to repeat the 3 previously presented words

Scoring Mini-Cog Assessment (Minimum score 0, Maximum 3)

Give 1 point for each recalled word 

• 0 - positive screen for dementia
• 1 or 2 with an abnormal clock -  positive screen for dementia
• 1 or 2 with a normal clock - negative screen for dementia
• 3 - negative screen for dementia

Patients who are called "poor historians" often have underlying dementia. If you suspect dementia in ED, then arrange follow up care with Neurology for thorough assessment. 

Discharge checklist for Dementia-

• Ask them their home address and how will they get there?
• Sucidal Thoughts/Depression screen? 
• Carers/Next of kin informed?

Further Reading:

Borson, S., Scanlan, J. M., Chen, P. and Ganguli, M. (2003), The Mini-Cog as a Screen for Dementia: Validation in a Population-Based Sample. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 51: 1451–1454. doi:10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003.51465.

Posted by:

              

     Lakshay Chanana

     

     Speciality Doctor

     Northwick Park Hospital

     Department of Emergency Medicine

     England

     @EMDidactic