Improving Communication Around the Diagnosis of Dementia

Dementia is a growing challenge for the US health care system, with over 7 million Americans diagnosed with dementia in 2020, projected to grow to over 9 million by 2030.(1) Communicating the diagnosis-and educating patients and caregivers according to their individualized preferences about the prognosis and the resources they will need-is a key early intervention that facilitates all future clinical care and family decision making. Yet most patients with dementia report never receiving a formal diagnosis.(2) Most clinicians also report not telling patients with dementia their diagnosis, with many acknowledging using euphemisms rather than formally communicating the diagnosis.(3) The problem is even more common for patients identifying as Hispanic or Non-Hispanic Black than for patients identifying as Non-Hispanic White.(4) This inequality in disclosure of dementia diagnoses may contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in access to specialist dementia care and anti-dementia medications, and in the use of antipsychotic medications.(5)