Diagnostic disclosure of Alzheimer's disease in Brazil: a national survey of specialized physicians.

Background: The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) can bring financial and emotional consequences to patients and caregivers. Whether or not the diagnosis should be disclosed to patients is a matter of debate amongst physicians and can be influenced by culture and experience.

Objective: To investigate the current practice of physicians who attend and treat patients with dementia in Brazil regarding the disclosure of dementia diagnosis and compare the practice with what has been performed 15 years ago in the country.