60% with Dementia are ‘never diagnosed’

60% with Dementia are ‘never diagnosed’

Doctors fail to spot dementia in 60% of sufferers, according to figures released late last year in September 2011.

This means thousands of elderly people are not given a diagnosis and so are left to cope with the condition without treatment or help from carers.

Apparently the reason for this is because some doctors are not diagnosing dementia as they feel it is part of growing old.

Research by the Alzheimer’s Society estimates that 766,000 people in Britain, have some form of Dementia.

But on average only 311,000 are diagnosed with the condition, meaning some 400,000+ sufferers are left without any help to tackle the condition.

Currently there is no cure for Dementia, however there are drugs to help treat some of the symptoms including mood swings, confusion and depression.

Additionally experts say that early diagnosis and treatment can significantly enhance a patients’ quality of life and delay the need for care home relocation.

An early diagnosis is essential for access to medication and to give patients and their families help and support.

Separate figures show earlier diagnosis could save the NHS nearly £3billion as patients would spend less time in hospital and care homes.

A report by the charities group Alzheimer’s Disease International, written by researchers at King’s College London, estimates that spotting the disease sooner would save up to £6,125 per sufferer.

If this was multiplied by every sufferer who hasn’t been diagnosed in Britain, it comes to nearly £2.8billion.

Experts say many patients with Dementia that hasn’t been diagnosed who are admitted to hospital for minor illnesses stay on wards far longer than other patients because of problems associated with their condition and many are then placed in care homes.