New, Rapid Dementia-screening Tool Rivals Standard Clinical Evaluations

A new method of screening for dementia may expedite the process greatly, possibly trimming the procedure from five hours to five minutes. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University wrote in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia that their new method, known as Quick Dementia Rating System (QDRS), has proven to be comparable to leading traditional procedures despite its notable brevity. “Most patients never receive an evaluation by a neurologist, geriatric psychiatrist or geriatrician skilled in dementia diagnoses and staging. Early detection will be important to enable future interventions at the earliest stages when they are likely to be most effective,” said Galvin. “The QDRS has the potential to provide a clearer, more accurate staging for those patients who are unable to see these more specialized clinicians and get them the treatment, referrals and community services they so desperately need.” To learn more about this study, click here.