Referral patterns and diagnostic outcomes in an outpatient Australian tertiary cognitive neurology service: 2009–2019
Abstract Introduction Young‐onset dementia (YOD) and atypical dementias often experience diagnostic delays, particularly in outpatient settings where timely referrals are crucial. Methods A 10‐year retrospective audit (2009–2019) of 626 patients at a specialist cognitive neurology clinic reviewed de...
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| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.70120 |
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| author | Antony Sutherland Christopher Kyndt David Darby Maja Christensen Fari Islam Samantha M. Loi Amy Brodtmann |
| author_facet | Antony Sutherland Christopher Kyndt David Darby Maja Christensen Fari Islam Samantha M. Loi Amy Brodtmann |
| author_sort | Antony Sutherland |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Young‐onset dementia (YOD) and atypical dementias often experience diagnostic delays, particularly in outpatient settings where timely referrals are crucial. Methods A 10‐year retrospective audit (2009–2019) of 626 patients at a specialist cognitive neurology clinic reviewed demographics, referral sources, and time to diagnosis. Data were compared between YOD and late‐onset dementia (LOD), and with and without dementia groups. Results Fifty‐three percent of patients were diagnosed with dementia (mean age: 65 ± 11.9 years). Non‐neurodegenerative conditions were more frequent in < 65 years (61%). Among YOD cases, Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia accounted for 40% and 34% of diagnoses, respectively, while AD predominated in LOD (65%). Language‐variant dementias were similar between groups (14%). Diagnostic delays in YOD averaged 1 year longer than in LOD. Discussion Higher YOD and language‐variant dementia referrals to specialist services reveal diagnostic delays, underscoring the need for better referral and diagnostic pathways. Highlights Delayed diagnosis common in young‐onset dementia (YOD) and atypical dementia. Specialist clinics see more YOD and language‐variant dementia referrals. YOD has longer time from symptom onset to diagnosis compared to late‐onset cases. Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) a more common diagnosis in YOD patients. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-47c8a86fe4d3428aa3f06883a9abd5c5 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2352-8729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring |
| spelling | doaj-art-47c8a86fe4d3428aa3f06883a9abd5c52025-06-25T08:50:43ZengWileyAlzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring2352-87292025-04-01172n/an/a10.1002/dad2.70120Referral patterns and diagnostic outcomes in an outpatient Australian tertiary cognitive neurology service: 2009–2019Antony Sutherland0Christopher Kyndt1David Darby2Maja Christensen3Fari Islam4Samantha M. Loi5Amy Brodtmann6Eastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic Box Hill Hospital Monash University Box Hill Victoria AustraliaEastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic Box Hill Hospital Monash University Box Hill Victoria AustraliaEastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic Box Hill Hospital Monash University Box Hill Victoria AustraliaEastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic Box Hill Hospital Monash University Box Hill Victoria AustraliaEastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic Box Hill Hospital Monash University Box Hill Victoria AustraliaRoyal Melbourne Hospital Melbourne Victoria AustraliaEastern Cognitive Disorders Clinic Box Hill Hospital Monash University Box Hill Victoria AustraliaAbstract Introduction Young‐onset dementia (YOD) and atypical dementias often experience diagnostic delays, particularly in outpatient settings where timely referrals are crucial. Methods A 10‐year retrospective audit (2009–2019) of 626 patients at a specialist cognitive neurology clinic reviewed demographics, referral sources, and time to diagnosis. Data were compared between YOD and late‐onset dementia (LOD), and with and without dementia groups. Results Fifty‐three percent of patients were diagnosed with dementia (mean age: 65 ± 11.9 years). Non‐neurodegenerative conditions were more frequent in < 65 years (61%). Among YOD cases, Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia accounted for 40% and 34% of diagnoses, respectively, while AD predominated in LOD (65%). Language‐variant dementias were similar between groups (14%). Diagnostic delays in YOD averaged 1 year longer than in LOD. Discussion Higher YOD and language‐variant dementia referrals to specialist services reveal diagnostic delays, underscoring the need for better referral and diagnostic pathways. Highlights Delayed diagnosis common in young‐onset dementia (YOD) and atypical dementia. Specialist clinics see more YOD and language‐variant dementia referrals. YOD has longer time from symptom onset to diagnosis compared to late‐onset cases. Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) a more common diagnosis in YOD patients.https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.70120cognitive neurologydementiafrontotemporal dementiaoutpatientyounger‐onset dementia |
| spellingShingle | Antony Sutherland Christopher Kyndt David Darby Maja Christensen Fari Islam Samantha M. Loi Amy Brodtmann Referral patterns and diagnostic outcomes in an outpatient Australian tertiary cognitive neurology service: 2009–2019 Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring cognitive neurology dementia frontotemporal dementia outpatient younger‐onset dementia |
| title | Referral patterns and diagnostic outcomes in an outpatient Australian tertiary cognitive neurology service: 2009–2019 |
| title_full | Referral patterns and diagnostic outcomes in an outpatient Australian tertiary cognitive neurology service: 2009–2019 |
| title_fullStr | Referral patterns and diagnostic outcomes in an outpatient Australian tertiary cognitive neurology service: 2009–2019 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Referral patterns and diagnostic outcomes in an outpatient Australian tertiary cognitive neurology service: 2009–2019 |
| title_short | Referral patterns and diagnostic outcomes in an outpatient Australian tertiary cognitive neurology service: 2009–2019 |
| title_sort | referral patterns and diagnostic outcomes in an outpatient australian tertiary cognitive neurology service 2009 2019 |
| topic | cognitive neurology dementia frontotemporal dementia outpatient younger‐onset dementia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.70120 |
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