Current Practice and Long-Term Developments in Multidisciplinary Dutch Memory Clinics

ObjectivesMemory Clinics (MCs) have a central role in multidisciplinary diagnostics and care of cognitive disorders and dementia. This study describes current clinical practice and developments of Dutch MCs since their start in 1986.MethodsA survey was sent to all Dutch hospital-based MCs in 1998, 2004, 2009, 2017 and 2023. Topics included: organization, patient characteristics, scales and questionnaires, neuropsychological assessment, additional assessments, novel biomarkers, disclosure of diagnosis and treatment. 74 out of the total of 89 MCs completely or partially filled out the questionnaire.ResultsThe number of MCs increased to 89. The number of patients seen increased substantially (per MC/year: 1998: 130; 2023: 324; total: 1998: 1560; 2023: 28,848). The proportion of patients diagnosed with dementia decreased from 80% in 1998 to 47% in 2023. Most commonly available assessments were neuroimaging (100%), routine laboratory testing of blood (98%) and neuropsychological assessment (NPA; 98%). Thirty-one percent indicated infrastructure needed to be changed before prescribing monoclonal antibody treatments for Alzheimer's disease.ConclusionsMCs showed substantial development in number, number of patients and geographical distribution within the country. Nowadays, MCs are central care facilities for the timely and multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of people with cognitive disorders and dementia.