Dementia diagnoses have reached their highest level in three years after a new program of health workers proactively diagnosed nursing home residents who may have missed check-ups during the pandemic.
Last December, the National Health Service in England launched new pilot projects to improve diagnostic rates. As of September 30 this year, some 475,573 people had a formal diagnosis of dementia – more than 52,000 more than in the same period last year. The actual number of patients will be higher because not all people with dementia have a formal diagnosis.
Health officials have set a target of diagnosing dementia in two-thirds of people over 65, which should be achieved within the next 12 months. According to the latest data, the current diagnosis rate is 64.3 percent.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard told the annual NHS providers’ conference in Liverpool that the NHS is committed to promoting the diagnosis so more people can get the help they need as quickly as possible.
In 14 parts of the country, nursing home residents are being actively assessed by nurses and other health workers. As a result of the programme, North West England (69.1 per cent) and North East England (66.9 per cent) exceeded the national target and locally reached their highest level since before the pandemic. Increased social isolation due to Covid-19 is also thought to have played a role in the rise in dementia cases.
Samantha Benham Hermetz, executive director of policy and public affairs at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Getting an early and accurate diagnosis of dementia has been a major challenge for some people and communities in England since the start of the pandemic.
“That’s why it’s encouraging to see that the NHS is starting to make progress in improving dementia diagnosis rates, particularly in the North West and North East. We look forward to spreading this progress to other parts of the country so more people have access to the support and medicines they need, and the opportunity to participate in research.”
Diagnosing dementia is the first step in assessing whether a person is suitable for treatment or whether they and their family need additional support.
NHS guidance recommends seeing your GP for an assessment if you are concerned about signs of dementia or are worried about a loved one. Once diagnosed, the NHS can offer a range of support services, including treatment options.
Earlier this year, NHS England set up a national working group to prepare for the possible introduction of new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease if they are approved by regulators.
Ms Pritchard said: “A diagnosis of dementia can be incredibly frightening for people and their families, but early diagnosis can ensure they get the support they need as quickly as possible.”
“Thanks to the efforts of NHS staff, tens of thousands more people are now being diagnosed than last year, opening the door to further support for patients and their families suffering from this heartbreaking disease. “We can do a lot in health care. and care We do everything we can to support people when they are diagnosed and, more importantly, we also support their families and carers.
“We will continue our efforts and efforts to identify dementia earlier and I am absolutely confident that next year we will reach our target of diagnosing two thirds of people with dementia so they don’t have to go through the disease alone.” If you notice someone has symptoms, encourage them to contact their healthcare provider and get tested. The sooner someone is identified, the sooner the NHS can help.”
The NHS Long Term Plan aims to improve support for people with dementia through greater support in the community through improved multidisciplinary teams in the community and improved personalized care.
Fiona Carragher, director of research and advocacy at the Alzheimer’s Society, said that while the diagnosis figures were “encouraging”, there was still “much work to be done” to ensure more people were diagnosed early enough or with a particular type of disease . dementia” so they can access the most appropriate treatments and support, or qualify for potentially revolutionary Alzheimer’s treatments that will soon become available.”
She said: “Research will beat dementia and as we undertake innovative new research into blood biomarkers that can significantly improve the diagnostic process, we must continue to urgently pursue dementia diagnosis.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.