Brits have been urged to look for the early indicators of dementia that families and friends may notice during holiday gatherings this season, as recently published statistics show a staggering increase in diagnoses. According to the latest , 499,068 individuals in England were diagnosed with dementia in November, signifying an uptick of 19,416 from the same period last year. As of November, a significant 65.
8 percent of people aged 65 and above who are estimated to have dementia had received a confirmed diagnosis. This is a notable figure compared to other affluent countries, which typically have a diagnosis rate ranging from 20 to 50 percent. England's leading dementia specialist stressed the importance of timely diagnosis, allowing patients and their families to access vital support at an early stage.
Some of the common symptoms of dementia that may appear first include: Doctor Jeremy Isaacs, England’s 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 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, who was diagnosed with dementia this year, spoke pragmatically about living with the condition. In his words shared by the NHS: "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." Expressing concerns that led to his diagnosis, 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." Dementia is a syndrome, or a group of associated symptoms, linked with the ongoing decline of the brain.
Symptoms include: If you or someone you know experiences symptoms you should speak to a GP..
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NHS urges family to look for early dementia signs this Christmas amid a surge in diagnoses
New figures show 499,068 people in England were diagnosed with dementia in November - an increase of 19,416 from the same time last year.