5th June 2023

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of dementia, according to DSM-5, is made based on a history of an acquired progressive cognitive decline affecting at least one cognitive domain and interfering with the ability to perform activities of daily living. This must not occur in the context of delirium, so the history should usually be for at least six months.

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) are commonly used screening tools for cognitive impairment. The MoCA is more useful for diagnosing cognitive impairment and the MMSE is useful for monitoring.