Dementia diagnosis plea

Wednesday September 14th, 2011

Most cases of dementia remain undiagnosed around the world - and even in wealthy countries many people with the problem remain unrecognised, according to a report published yesterday.

Few countries have diagnosed as many as 50 per cent of cases of the problem, according to Alzheimer's Disease International.

Too many doctors and families assume dementia is a normal part of ageing, the organisation says.

But drugs and psychological interventions can make a big difference, according to the report.

The report claims that early diagnosis could save an average of more than £6,000 for every patient.

Director Marc Wortmann said: "Earlier diagnosis can also transform the design and execution of clinical trials to test new treatments. But first we need to ensure that people have access to the effective interventions that are already proven and available, which means that health systems need to be prepared, trained and skilled to provide timely and accurate diagnoses, communicated sensitively, with appropriate support.

"Over the past year, the research team has reviewed thousands of scientific studies detailing the impact of early diagnosis and treatment, and we have found evidence to suggest real benefits for patients and caregivers."

The British government said it welcomed the report and was actively promoting early diagnosis.

A spokesman for the UK Department of Health said: "Improving dementia care is a priority for the Government.

"Early diagnosis is key as it allows people to plan for their future, preventing the need for crisis intervention and premature admission to acute hospital care. This delivers better outcomes for people with dementia, enabling them to live well."

Tags: Brain & Neurology | Elderly Health | Mental Health | UK News | World Health

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