Value of screening instruments in the diagnosis of post-stroke dementia

Brief dementia screening instruments, or mental status tests are frequently used to screen for cognitive impairment. We discuss the strengths and weak nesses of existing mental status tests in dementia screening in general. Mo st screening instruments that are used in clinical practice are developed t o detect dementia compatible with Alzheimer's disease, and their value in d etecting dementia after stroke is less well known. A stroke may cause both cortical and subcortical deficits, and the clinical expression of post-stro ke dementia is different from that of Alzheimer's disease. Existing brief m ental status tests have limited value in this patient group because they te nd to ignore specific problems which may occur in stroke patients. Some exp anded screening instruments, like the CAMCOG, are more useful and have addi tional diagnostic value. With the growing interest in research for vascular factors in dementia over the past years, however, a specific screening ins trument for post-stroke dementia would be a valuable contribution.