title: [Development of memory clinics in The Netherlands].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Memory Clinics (MC's) are multidisciplinary teams involved with early diagnosis and treatment of people with dementia. In order to attain more insight into the development of this kind of services in The Netherlands, we compared the data of two inventories, one of 1998 and the other of 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of MC's increased from 12 to 40. The number of referrals per service has also increased. Dementia was the most important syndromal diagnosis. The focus is less exclusively on academic centres. An growing number of MC's has structural collaborations with local service providers for mental health. Differences among MC's exist with regard to the number of referrals per week, the intensity and duration of the diagnostic procedures and the proportion of people without dementia. There is much interest among MC's to participate in a national network for harmonisation and quality control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MC's are an increasing part of standard care for people with early dementia and other cognitive disorders.
authors: Academisch zie kenhuis Maastricht/Alzheimer Centrum Limburg, Maastricht. f.verhey@np.unimaas.nl
authors: F R J
authors: FR
authors: Verhey
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Ramakers
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Jolles
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Scheltens
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vernooij-Dassen
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Olde Rikkert
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D009426:Netherlands; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011320:Primary Health Care