Obstacles on the way to diagnosing dementia

A racetrack game has been used by a local MP to highlight obstacles on the way to diagnosing dementia.

Justin Madders, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston MP, has been given an insight into the barriers to diagnosis faced by people thought to be living with the condition.

Mr Madders, formerly a Shadow health spokesman in the House of Commons, spent time at the Labour Party conference supporting an Alzheimer’s Society’s campaign to ensure everyone believed to be living with dementia receives a timely, accurate and helpful diagnosis.

MPs at the Liverpool conference took part in a challenging racetrack game created by the charity. It gave MPs a chance to compete against one another to ‘navigate their way to a dementia diagnosis’ using a remote-control car, avoiding barriers including an incorrect diagnosis, unclear pathways, and postcode lotteries.

In the Cheshire West and Chester Council area only six out of 10 (61%) of people living with dementia are thought to have a diagnosis. There are about 5,090 people living with dementia in Cheshire West and Chester, with a total of 900,000 across the UK, which is set to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.

With diagnosis rates at a five-year low after the pandemic, the charity believes tens of thousands of people are now living with undiagnosed dementia – officially termed as “a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning”. The effect is that they do not have access to the vital care and support that a diagnosis can bring.

Recent Alzheimer’s Society research shows some people do not seek a dementia diagnosis because they think memory loss is just part of getting old, fail to recognise the signs of dementia, or are in denial about their symptoms, while they may also face delays once they have tried to find help.

Although the thought of diagnosis can be daunting, more than nine in 10 people with dementia say they benefitted from getting a diagnosis, for example by helping them come to terms with it or plan for the future.

Pledging his support, Mr Madders said: “One in four people have battled dementia symptoms for over two years before getting a diagnosis. If you are worried that you or a loved one may have dementia, should contact Alzheimer’s Society for advice and support.”

James White, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “National diagnosis rates are currently at a five-year low, meaning it’s vital that we do everything we can to get people diagnosed so they can get treatment and support.

“We have launched resources to arm people with all the information they need when speaking with their GP. These include online support and advice and a new symptoms checklist which can be printed and taken to the doctor to help both patients and clinicians have an easier diagnosis experience.”

Visit:

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/memoryloss

...or call the Alzheimer’s Society on 0333 150 3456.

For callers who do not have English as their language of choice, Alzheimer’s Society can arrange a simultaneous language translation service.

Pictured - Justin Madders MP with Rachael Martin-Smith from the Alzheimer’s Society.