Stephanie Louise Rosewarne

• BSc (Hons) Physiological Sciences
• The validation of brief cognitive screening instruments and determination of the prevalence of dementia in Geriatric Medical Outpatients

At present, screening tools for dementia in common usage have not been tested in secondary services for older people not specialising in mental health. There are two main aims to the study:

1)         To determine the prevalence of dementia in geriatric medical outpatient clinics

2)         To validate appropriate screening procedures (including MMSE, clock-drawing tests and questionnaires for relatives) will be validated.

After the study, Geriatricians will be able to interpret the results of the screening tools for dementia, knowing they have been validated against the “gold standard” diagnosis of dementia. This will enable them to institute optimum management of dementia.

Project Supervisor: Dr Louise Allan, Institute of Neuroscience

Funding Source: Newcastle University