Number of people diagnosed with dementia in England still falling short

Andrew Chidgey, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Alzheimer's Society, says,

'The shockingly low diagnosis rates in England highlight that people are not visiting their GPs and even if they do, diagnoses are not being made. It is clear that there is a shortfall and we must increase understanding of dementia amongst the public and GPs to ensure a swift and timely diagnosis.'

Alzheimer's Society says there are currently 750,000 people living with dementia in the UK, yet only a third of them have had a diagnosis. GPs are an important part of the diagnosis process and the low number of diagnoses is in part due to the lack of training in dementia available to GPs. Research also shows that many people concerned about memory problems put off going to see their GP.

Low awareness of the early signs of dementia and the treatment and support available are among the other reasons why people may not receive a diagnosis. Public and GP awareness of the symptoms of dementia and how people can live well with the condition needs to be improved.

However, people worried about their memory should still seek the help of their GP.

Andrew Chidgey adds,

'Forgetfulness is not uncommon amongst most people, but when it begins to affect daily life it is important to get it checked out as soon as possible. Memory loss can be a symptom of dementia, along with confusion and mood changes. The sooner people seek help the sooner they can get support and information.'

Earlier this year, Alzheimer's Society re-launched its Worried about your memory? campaign, which stresses the importance of seeking help if people are worried about their own memory or that of someone close to them. It involved leaflets and posters being delivered to 10,000 GP surgeries - almost every surgery in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since the re-launch in August, 4,000 people have requested an information booklet.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

• The QOF is a voluntary annual reward and incentive programme for GPs across the England. It records the number of people diagnosed with dementia by GPs. Its aim is to improve the quality of care patients are given by rewarding practices for the quality of care they provide.
• http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/QOF/2009-10/Prevalence tables/QOF0910_National_Prevalence.xls
• There are more than 8,000 GP surgeries in the England and over 10,000 across the UK.
• The initiative follows the successful launch of Worried about your memory? in 2009 which reached 80,000 people after leaflets were delivered to GPs across the country. Of those who requested further information, one in five went on to get a diagnosis. The campaign was relaunched in August 2010.
• To find out more about dementia visit alzheimers.org.uk/memoryworry

Fact about dementia

• Dementia is not a single illness but a group of symptoms caused by damage to the brain. The symptoms include loss of memory, mood changes and confusion
• Dementia affects everyone in different ways, but you should seek help without delay if your memory is not as good as it used to be and especially if you:
• struggle to remember recent events, although you can easily recall things that happened in the past
• find it hard to follow conversations or programmes on TV
• forget the names of friends or everyday objects
• cannot recall things you have heard, seen or read
• notice that you repeat yourself or lose the thread of what you are saying
• have problems thinking and reasoning
• feel anxious, depressed or angry about your forgetfulness
• find that other people start to comment on your forgetfulness
• feel confused even when in a familiar environment.
• One in three people over 65 will die with dementia
• Alzheimer's Society research shows that 750,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer's disease. In just 15 years a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051
• Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them
• Alzheimer's Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Alzheimer's Society supports people to live well with dementia today and funds research to find a cure for tomorrow. We rely on voluntary donations to continue our vital work. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898 or visiting alzheimers.org.uk
• Alzheimer's Society provides a National Dementia Helpline, the number is 0845 300 0336 or visit alzheimers.org.uk