Should we screen for Alzheimer's disease? A review of the evidence for and against screening Alzheimer's disease in primary care practice.

Fewer than one-half of all Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients are currently diagnosed; approximately 25% are treated with antidementia compounds. Screening has been proposed to help combat underdiagnosis of AD. An emerging consensus suggest that the three keys to the successful treatment of Alzheimer's disease are early detection, use of currently approved medications to provide symptomatic treatment, and development of medications to slow and eventually halt disease progression. If early detection of Alzheimer's disease is the first step, screening would seem to be an important strategy. We review the arguments for and against screening and suggest several strategies and instruments that may be helpful in the context of screening for Alzheimer's disease in primary care practice.