[The Swiss Memory Clinics recommendations for the diagnosis of dementia - an update].

Abstract

Introduction: The early and accurate diagnosis is the basic prerequisite for timely, targeted and individually tailored counselling, treatment and support for people developing cognitive impairment. The association Swiss Memory Clinics (SMC) has elaborated detailed quality standards for the assessment of cognitive disorders, published them for the first time in 2018 and updated them in 2024. These recommendations present the current diagnostic guidelines and examination options, along with proposed standards for the relevant procedures. Single areas such as anamnesis, clinical examination, laboratory assessments, neuropsychological testing and neuroradiological procedures are discussed as part of the standard diagnostics and the complementary investigation methods for differential diagnostics. Furthermore, the disclosure of the diagnosis and counselling are now described as an integral part of the diagnostic process. The most important objectives of the recommendations for the diagnosis of dementia disorders remain to enable high-quality early and accurate diagnostics of cognitive disorders throughout Switzerland; and to provide a practical guide for clinicians in primary care and memory clinics.