title: Dementia: a three-pronged strategy for primary care.
abstract: A common mistake is prematurely reassuring the patient and family that "nothing is wrong" if history and physical--with or without a brief mental status exam--is reasonably normal. Caregivers should be informed that although a cure for dementia is seldom found, there often are targets for medical intervention that could lead to improved mental and physical function for the patient.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care