Journal article

Time to diagnosis in younger-onset dementia and the impact of a specialist diagnostic service

SM Loi, AMY Goh, R Mocellin, CB Malpas, S Parker, D Eratne, S Farrand, W Kelso, A Evans, M Walterfang, D Velakoulis

International Psychogeriatrics | CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS | Published : 2022

Abstract

Objectives: While early diagnosis of younger-onset dementia (YOD) is crucial in terms of accessing appropriate services and future planning, diagnostic delays are common. This study aims to identify predictors of delay to diagnosis in a large sample of people with YOD and to investigate the impact of a specialist YOD service on this time to diagnosis. Design: A retrospective cross-sectional study. Setting: The inpatient unit of a tertiary neuropsychiatry service in metropolitan Victoria, Australia. Participants: People diagnosed with a YOD. Measurements and methods: We investigated the following predictors using general linear modeling: demographics including sex and location, age at onset, ..

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