Plainte mnésique

Complaints about memory disorders are very frequent. Such disorders are generally considered as reflecting a normal, and more or less well accepted ageing. However they may also be the first signs of a dementia or of an atypical depressive disorder. Both justify adequate treatment and management. Therefore any memory complaint needs careful evaluation. The first step is an analysis of the memory complaint itself, from the patient point of view but also from the caregiver one. The second step is the assessment of its impact in terms of daily living. Daily activities and personal care are to be scrutinized, but usual social and leisure activities are also important. Behavioural disorders should be sought if not spontaneously reported to the caregiver. A short neuropsychological evaluation helps differentiating patients with moderate to severe dementia from normal subjects and patients suffering of subtle disorders that need in-depth evaluation in a memory clinic.