According to a report, around one-third of dementia patients do not receive a formal diagnosis, which means they would not benefit from breakthrough drugs like lecanemab and donanemab. Currently, only 64% of people in England with dementia have a formal diagnosis, falling short of the government’s target of 67%. Alzheimer’s Research UK highlights the limited use of proven diagnostic techniques, such as lumbar punctures, with only 2% of suspected cases undergoing this procedure. This lack of diagnosis leads to a disparity in access to treatment due to the limited availability of diagnostic tests and the reluctance of some doctors to provide a diagnosis.
To address this issue, Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Tipping Point: The Future of Dementia report recommends increasing the number of annual diagnoses from 2,000 to 20,000. This would require an investment of £16 million for diagnostic infrastructure, equipment, and training, including the addition of 50 new band 6/7 nurses across the UK. The report also suggests a sustained annual investment of £10 million until new diagnostic tools, such as blood tests, are ready to replace lumbar punctures.
Samantha Benham-Hermetz, a representative of Alzheimer’s Research UK, emphasizes the importance of a formal diagnosis for proper treatment, including the potential new drugs being reviewed by regulators. She criticizes the unacceptable reality that over a third of individuals over 65 living with dementia in England never receive a diagnosis, and questions the underlying target of 67%. Comparable data on dementia diagnosis rates is not even available in other UK nations as it is not routinely published.
The postcode lottery resulting from limited diagnostic tests and doctors’ reluctance is evident, with only 53% of people living with dementia in Herefordshire and Worcestershire receiving a diagnosis compared to 73% in South Yorkshire. In addition to these challenges, another report predicts a further 1.5 million cases of dementia in the UK by 2050. Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) states that more than 636,000 of these cases could be preventable through action taken by individuals and governments. ADI suggests reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, engaging in regular exercise, and maintaining social contact as measures that can lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
Dementia remains the leading cause of death in the UK and is expected to become the most costly health condition by 2030. Without intervention, half of the population will be directly affected by the disease, either as caregivers, patients, or both. Officials must address known risk factors, including obesity, air pollution, and limited access to early education, to take proactive steps in preventing as many cases of dementia as possible. Paola Barbarino, CEO of ADI, emphasizes the need to raise awareness of dementia risk-reduction strategies and ensure access to essential information, advice, and support services.
In summary, improvements in dementia diagnosis rates and increased efforts to prevent the disease are vital to address the barriers to treatment and provide better outcomes for patients.
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