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2022 Pilot Awards for Global Brain Health Leaders (GBHI)

The Frontotemporal Education Initiative in Argentina for Psychiatrist

How can diagnosis of dementia in psychiatric clinics be improved?

Nahuel Magrath Guimet, MD
Fundación para la lucha contra las enfermedades neurológicas de la infancia
Buenos Aires, Argentina



Background

Alzheimer’s and other dementias may be associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms such as apathy, depression, anxiety, and sleep difficulties. Studies have shown that these symptoms can occur early during dementia development before the initial signs of cognitive impairment. This can lead to late or misdiagnosis of dementia in a psychiatric setting, especially in low- and middle-income countries due to lack of formal training, screening assessments, and other barriers. Dr. Nahuel Magrath Guimet proposes a pilot study that will develop an educational program to improve early diagnosis of dementia in psychiatric clinics in Argentina.

Research Plan

Dr. Magrath Guimet and colleagues will first develop an education program of virtual and live training activities that will be tailored to psychiatrists. Participants will include around 60 psychiatrists from hospitals in the Buenos Aires region of Argentina, and the topics in the training will span diagnosis criteria, clinical and neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, and current screening tools. At the end of the program, the researchers will administer course evaluations and knowledge screening assessments to the participants to evaluate the success of the new educational program.

Impact

If successful, this project may help to develop a new educational program for psychiatrists to improve diagnosis of dementia in psychiatric clinics in Argentina.

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