Physician survey results: Knowledge of screening for cognitive decline

As patient populations age and rates of cognitive decline are on the rise, primary care clinicians will remain the first point of contact for detection and early management.

How prepared do they feel for this role? A new survey of primary care physicians conducted by Medical Economics and Patient Care offers a snapshot of current attitudes, practices and knowledge related to cognitive assessment in the clinical setting and familiarity with standard-of-care medications.

While a majority report conducting annual screenings for mild cognitive impairment, barriers such as limited time, uncertainty about guidelines and a lack of confidence in interpreting results persist.

The survey also highlights variation in tool selection and notable gaps in clinicians’ self-reported familiarity with distinguishing early cognitive decline from normal aging. These findings shed light on the opportunities and ongoing challenges of integrating cognitive health for older adults into routine primary care.

See the full slideshow on Patient Care Online.