> Publications & presentations > PHC RIS infonet > June 2008 > Dementia in general practice

How do you deal with dementia in general practice?

The Dementia Collaborative Research Centres (DCRCs) are an Australian Government Initiative consisting of three university-based research centres, each with a different focus:

• Assessment and Better Care Outcomes - based at UNSW
• Prevention, Risk Reduction and Early Detection - based at ANU
• Consumers, Carers, and Social Research - based at QUT

Each centre supports centre-based research as well as research through its node partners. The Director of the UNSW-based DCRC, Professor Henry Brodaty works closely with Professor Dimity Pond at the University of Newcastle who leads the GP node of the DCRC. They are collaborating on a multi-site NHMRC-funded project on the detection and management of dementia in General Practice. This research focuses on more accurate diagnosis, cognitive screening, a brief, efficient questionnaire (GPCOG) designed for GPs to detect dementia in its early stages, and on improving management strategies.

Prof Pond has also completed two separate projects for the DCRC: a literature review covering diagnosis, assessment and management of dementia in General Practice and a focus group project which discussed the same topic with GPs and practice nurses. Prof Pond is currently working on a new DCRC-sponsored project examining inappropriate medication use in community dwelling elderly people with and without cognitive impairment.

Prof Brodaty will soon start a new and exciting project which will see the establishment of a website for screening for dementia and cognitive impairment. This website will be freely available to any interested party world-wide and has been co-funded by the Canadian National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE), Toronto.

Prof Pond will present a workshop on GPs and Dementia at the National Dementia Research Forum 18-19 September 2008 in Sydney. For more information about the Forum and the work of the Dementia Collaborative Research Centers please visit our website www.dementia.unsw.edu.au.

Rosi Benninghaus
Manager
E: R.Benninghaus@unsw.edu.au
W: www.dementia.unsw.edu.au