As family and friends gather for the
festive period, the NHS is highlighting the signs and symptoms of
dementia to look out for in loved
ones.
Common early symptoms of dementia that
may appear some time before an official medical diagnosis include
emotional changes such as irritability, forgetfulness, struggling
to follow a conversation or find the right word or being confused
about time and place.
The symptoms reminder comes alongside
new NHS data showing more people than ever before have a dementia
diagnosis with November figures showing 499,068 people in England
have received a dementia diagnosis – a jump of 19,416 in a
year.
England's top dementia doctor has said
this is a “positive step forward” as a timely diagnosis can mean
patients and families can get the right support in place at an
earlier stage.
NHS staff across the country are
working hard to diagnose people with dementia, and pilot
programmes in 14 sites have been set up to assess care home
residents to support identification of people who may have
dementia so that everyone can get the care and support that they
need, regardless of where they
live.
England has one of the highest
dementia diagnosis rates in the world: as of November, 65.8 per
cent of people aged 65 or over who are estimated to have dementia
had a recorded diagnosis. High-income countries are typically in
the range of
20-50%.
While dementia diagnosis rates are the
highest since the start of the pandemic at 65.8 per cent, the NHS
is working hard to meet its ambition to diagnose 66.7% of the
total number of people living with the
disease.
The NHS is encouraging people to come
forward and get checked if they have any common early signs or
symptoms of
dementia.
Ahead of the Christmas period,
Dr Jeremy Isaacs, NHS England national clinical director
for dementia said: “Dementia often develops slowly and might not be
apparent during a brief interaction, but with family and friends
gathering at Christmas perhaps for the first time in months,
there is an opportunity to spot the signs of this
condition.
“There are lots of reasons why people
might be forgetful or absent-minded at such a busy time of the
year, but it could also be the sign that something is
wrong.
“Issues that may not have been obvious
previously such as forgetfulness, difficulty making plans, or
word-finding problems can come to the surface or be easier to
spot when families or friends across the country get together
over the festive season.
“Thanks to patients and families
coming forward, and the hard work of NHS staff, we have a record
almost half a million people diagnosed with dementia, most of
whom are living in their own homes with support from family and
friends.
“Getting a diagnosis of dementia is
the first step in supporting people, with a wide range of NHS
services able to
help.
“If you have noticed that someone has
symptoms, please encourage them to visit their GP for an
assessment – the sooner someone is seen the quicker the NHS can
help.”
Former GP Dr Matthew Alexander, 79,
from Rotherham was diagnosed with dementia this year and said:
“I'm quite OK – it's not something that I would wish on anybody
but this diagnosis is a factual thing and I just have to live
with it.”
His wife Sara, 73, said: “I started
getting worried because he was forgetting so many things. Being
diagnosed has put my mind at rest knowing that we will receive
the best care. The memory clinic has been extremely good and our
nurse is very thoughtful saying if there's any issue to get in
touch and it's great to know we've somewhere to go if we need
advice.”
, Head of Policy at
Alzheimer's Society, said: “Around one million people are living with dementia in the
UK. Christmas should be a happy time when families often get
together. But sadly, for some people it will be the first time
they notice changes in their loved ones showing signs of
dementia.
“A third of people living with
dementia in England don't have a diagnosis. Getting a diagnosis
can be daunting but we believe it's better to know. An early and
accurate diagnosis can open the door to vital care, support and
treatment. It can also help people to manage their symptoms and
avoid ending up in crisis.
“We welcome the drive to ensure more
people get a dementia diagnosis and the lifechanging help they
need. We must maintain the progress that's been made by sharing
best practice across the country and raising awareness of the
many benefits a diagnosis can bring to everyone living with
dementia.
“If you're worried about yourself or a
loved one, speak to your GP about your concerns. Alzheimer's
Society has a free simple symptom checklist to help
alzheimers.org.uk/checklist”
