[Memory complaints: what should be done? From consultation to the memory center]

Memory complaints are frequent and not always the result of a memory impairment. Such complaints must be taken into account since they always reflect some disorder, at least of attentional processes. Excepting primary psychiatric disorders, biological and imaging exams are required in addition to a neuropsychological and behavioral assessment. Finding the cause of the memory complaints is not an end in itself. The purpose is to cure or at least to relieve the consequences of this and related symptoms with pharmacological, neuropsychological and psychological therapies, social help, information and support. Patients (especially in case of dementia) and families need follow-up care by a multidisciplinary staff (neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, speech therapists, nurses, nurse's aids and social workers) who play a role of prevention for intercurrent diseases, social and legal counselling and help anticipate the future. Multidisciplinary memory units are dedicated to the diagnosis and care of memory complaints and disorders. We describe here the operative function of these centers which should be integrated into a health care network centered around patients with memory complaints and their families.