RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Diagnosis and treatment of dementia: 4. Approach to management of mild to moderate dementia
JF Canadian Medical Association Journal
JO CMAJ
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 787
OP 793
DO 10.1503/cmaj.070803
VO 179
IS 8
A1 David B. Hogan MD
A1 Peter Bailey MD
A1 Sandra Black MD
A1 Anne Carswell, MSc PhD
A1 Howard Chertkow MD
A1 Barry Clarke MD
A1 Carole Cohen, BA MD
A1 John D. Fisk, PhD
A1 Dorothy Forbes, RN PhD
A1 Malcolm Man-Son-Hing, MSc MD
A1 Krista Lanctôt, PhD
A1 Debra Morgan, RN PhD
A1 Lilian Thorpe, MD PhD
YR 2008
UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/179/8/787.abstract
AB Background: The management of mild to moderate dementia presents complex and evolving challenges. Practising physicians are often uncertain about the appropriate approaches to issues such as the disclosure of the diagnosis, driving and caregiver support. In this article, we provide practical guidance on management based on recommendations from the Third Canadian Consensus Conference on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia. Methods: We developed evidence-based guidelines using systematic literature searches, with specific criteria for the selection and quality assessment of articles, and a clear and transparent decision-making process. We selected articles published from January 1996 to December 2005 that dealt with the management of mild to moderate stages of Alzheimer disease and other forms of dementia. Recommendations based on the literature review were drafted and voted on. Consensus required 80% or more agreement by participants. Subsequent to the conference, we searched for additional articles published from January 2006 to April 2008 using the same major keywords and secondary search terms. We graded the strength of evidence using the criteria of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care. Results: We identified 1615 articles, of which 954 were selected for further study. From a synthesis of the evidence in these studies, we made 48 recommendations for the management of mild to moderate dementia (28) and dementia with a cerebrovascular component (8) as well as recommendations for addressing ethical issues (e.g., disclosure of the diagnosis) (12). The updated literature review did not change these recommendations. In brief, patients and their families should be informed of the diagnosis. Although the specifics of managing comorbid conditions might require modification, standards of care and treatment targets would not change because of a mild dementia. The use of medications with anticholinergic effects should be minimized. There should be proactive planning for driving cessation, since this will be required at some point in the course of progressive dementia. The patient's ability to drive should be determined primarily on the basis of his or her functional abilities. An important aspect of care is supporting the patient's primary caregiver. Interpretation: Much has been learned about the care of patients with mild to moderate dementia and the support of their primary caregivers. There is a pressing need for the development, and dissemination, of collaborative systems of care.