Addressing Diagnostic Delays In Dementia For Better Patient Outcomes

People pinch dementia are diagnosed an mean of 3.5 years aft symptoms are first noticed, aliases moreover longer (4.1 years) for those pinch early-onset dementia, finds a caller study led by UCL researchers.

The study, published successful nan International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, is nan first systematic reappraisal and meta-analysis of world grounds examining clip to diagnosis successful dementia.

The researchers reviewed information from 13 antecedently published studies which took spot successful Europe, US, Australia and China, reporting information connected 30,257 participants.

The investigation squad was investigating nan mean interval betwixt denotation onset (rated by patients aliases family carers utilizing interviews aliases aesculapian records) to nan last test of dementia.

"Timely test of dementia remains a awesome world challenge, shaped by a analyzable group of factors, and circumstantial healthcare strategies are urgently needed to amended it. Other studies estimate that only 50-65% of cases are ever diagnosed successful high-income countries, pinch galore countries having moreover little diagnostic rates."

Dr Vasiliki Orgeta, Study Lead Author, Division of Psychiatry, University College London

Dr. Orgeta added, "Timely test tin amended entree to treatments and for immoderate group prolong nan clip surviving pinch mild dementia earlier symptoms worsen."

In a pooled meta-analysis of 10 of nan included studies, nan researchers recovered that it typically takes 3.5 years from nan first alert of symptoms to a diligent receiving a test of dementia, aliases 4.1 years for those pinch early-onset dementia, pinch immoderate groups much apt to acquisition longer delays.

They recovered that younger property astatine onset and having frontotemporal dementia were some linked to longer clip to diagnosis. While information connected group disparities was limited, 1 of nan studies reviewed recovered that achromatic patients tended to acquisition a longer hold earlier diagnosis.

Dr Orgeta said: "Our activity highlights nan request for a clear conceptual model connected clip to test successful dementia, developed successful collaboration pinch group pinch dementia, their carers, and supporters."

Dr Phuong Leung (UCL Division of Psychiatry) said: "Symptoms of dementia are often mistaken for normal ageing, while fear, stigma, and debased nationalist consciousness tin discourage group from seeking help."

Professor Rafael Del-Pino-Casado, of nan University of Jaén, Spain, said: "Within healthcare systems, inconsistent referral pathways, constricted entree to specialists, and under-resourced representation clinics tin create further delays. For some, connection differences aliases a deficiency of culturally due appraisal devices tin make entree to timely test moreover harder."

Dr Orgeta added: "To velocity up dementia diagnosis, we request action connected aggregate fronts. Public consciousness campaigns tin thief amended knowing of early symptoms and trim stigma, encouraging group to activity thief sooner. Clinician training is captious to amended early nickname and referral, on pinch entree to early involution and individualised support truthful that group pinch dementia and their families tin get nan thief they need."