Understanding Dementia in Primary Care: Diagnostic Tips, Tools and Treatment — Oakstone CMEssentials

How should primary care clinicians approach dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) concerns in aging patients?

In this edition of CMEssentials, Dr. Brandon Fainstad sits down with Dr. Barak Gaster, professor of medicine and director of the Cognition in Primary Care Program at the University of Washington, to explore the diagnosis and management of dementia from a generalist’s perspective.

With cases like Jack — a 68-year-old engineer navigating subtle cognitive changes — Dr. Gaster walks through practical strategies to distinguish between normal aging, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia.

From ruling out confounding factors to identifying common neurodegenerative patterns and navigating imaging decisions, the conversation delivers insight for everyday practice.

What you’ll learn from this conversation:

--- How to identify signs of MCI vs. dementia
-- The value of cognitive screening tools like MoCA and RUDAS
-- What labs and imaging are essential in a cognitive workup
-- When to consider referral to neurology
-- Key red flags for Alzheimer’s, Lewy body, and frontotemporal dementia
-- The emotional and systemic impact of cognitive decline

Whether you’re new to dementia care or seeking a structured approach to these complex conversations, this discussion offers expert insight backed by evidence and experience.

👉 Learn more and earn CME with Oakstone at https://oakstone.com

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Sections ⌛
[00:00] – Understanding the challenge of memory and cognition
[03:00] – Dementia’s growing burden on patients and generalists
[06:00] – Patient case: Jack
[07:50] – Aging vs. MCI vs. dementia
[10:00] – Conducting a cognitive workup
[14:30] – Choosing the right screening tools
[20:00] – Interpreting cognitive test scores
[23:30] – When to image (CT vs. MRI)
[25:57] – Distinguishing types of dementia
[28:07] – Referral criteria and red flags
[30:00] – Applying these learnings in your practice

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