5 Challenges Physicians Face When Screening for Cognitive Decline
Primary care clinicians are generally the first clinical contact for older adults with early signs of dementia. Our survey uncovered 5 primary challenges to being in that role.
“Many patients do not want to know about their condition, they’re in denial. There is also stigma attached to accepting help even if the patient does acknowledge cognitive decline.”
This was one response to the question How would you describe the most significant challenges in assessing, diagnosing, and caring for adults with mild cognitive impairment right now? The question ended a recent Patient Care© online survey of US primary care clinicians that sought to learn more about their knowledge of the signs and symptoms of neurocognitive decline and their level of comfort with diagnosis and treatment.
Primary care clinicians are most often the first to encounter signs of cognitive decline in older adults, yet many in our survey reported significant obstacles to identifying, diagnosing, and managing these conditions effectively. In the balance of the open-ended survey responses, summarized in the slides above, clinicians described a range of challenges—from patient denial and time constraints to systemic barriers and clinical uncertainty—that make early cognitive assessment in primary care both difficult and emotionally taxing. The reflections here highlight not only the logistical hurdles but also the professional strain many clinicians experience when navigating cognitive health with limited resources, unclear guidance, and growing demands on their time.
For a summary of the survey findings, please see open-ended responses regarding challenges to conducting cognitive screening voiced by survey respondents, see Physician Survey Results: Primary Care Knowledge of Screening for Cognitive Decline
