Background: Dementia is an increasingly common condition in the community. On average, every general practitioner in Australia will see three new cases each year. There are strong reasons for making an early diagnosis of dementia, as this may enable families to plan ahead and to institute management that could reduce cognitive impairment and slow disease progression.
Objective: This article discusses the GP's role in the identification and management of dementia in general practice and provides an update on management of this disease.
Discussion: Several new strategies for the management of dementia have emerged recently and GPs should be aware that optimal management of cardiovascular risk factors will improve cognition and may delay onset. Management of exercise, socialisation and cognitive training may improve cognitive function in early-diagnosed cases. The GP's role in initiating service delivery is an important one, and the practice nurse may play an important role in coordinating services for patients in the early stages of dementia.