By MyHealthNewsDaily staff

Older adults taking psychiatric medications such as Valium or Xanax may be at increased risk of dementia, a new French study suggests.

In the reports, adults older than 65 who took drugs known as benzodiazepines were 50 percent more likely to develop dementia over a 15-year period, compared with those who did not take the drugs.

Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed medications, used to treat symptoms of anxiety and sleep disorders.

The study findings held true even when taking into account other factors that may affect people's dementia risk, such as age, gender, diabetes and early signs of dementia. The researchers also accounted for some factors that lead people to start taking benzodiazepines in the first place.

Researchers caution that the study only found an association between the drugs and dementia, and not a direct cause-and-effect link.

However, the findings agree with those of several earlier studies looking at the link between benzodiazepines and dementia. Use of the medications has also been tied to other serious events in older adults, such as falls.

"Considering the extent to which benzodiazepines are prescribed and the number of potential adverse effects of this drug class in the general population, [their] indiscriminate, widespread use should be cautioned against," the researchers said.

Whenever possible, use of the drugs should be limited to just a few weeks, the researchers said. Currently, despite evidence that the drugs work only over short periods, many people take them for years.

The study followed about 1,000 older adults living in France who, at the study's start, did not have dementia and were not taking benzodiazepines. Over the first five years of the analysis, 95 participants started taking benzodiazepines.

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Xanax, Valium may increase dementia risk in older adults

Published: Sept. 29, 2012 at 12:57 AM

BOSTON, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A study involving 1,063 men and women who took the sleeping pill benzodiazepine increased the risk of dementia within 15 years, U.S. and French researchers say.

Professor Tobias Kurth of Harvard University's School of Public Health and doctoral student Sophie Billioti de Gage of the University of Bordeaux in France, said the study -- participants were an average age of 78 -- were all free of dementia at the start of the trial, but over the next 20 years 253 developed dementia and 30 were benzodiazepine users, The Daily Telegraph reported.

The study, published in the British Medical Journal, found for every 100 people studied for a year -- 4.8 who had taken the drugs developed dementia compared with 3.2 who had not.

"Our data add to the accumulating evidence that use of benzodiazepines is associated with increased risk of dementia, which, given the high and often chronic consumption of these drugs in many countries would constitute a substantial public health concern," Billioti de Gage said in a statement. "Therefore, physicians should carefully assess the expected benefits of the use of benzodiazepines in the light of these adverse effects and, whenever possible, limit prescription to a few weeks as recommended by the good practice guidelines."

Tobias Kurth, who works jointly at Harvard University's School of Public Health and the University of Bordeaux, said one single study does not necessarily show everything that is going on, so there is no need to panic.

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Sleeping pills may be linked to dementia

By 2050 the number of Australians suffering from dementia will be close to one million, a new report suggests.

It is estimated around 300,000 Australians currently have dementia and it's thought 400,000 people will be suffering from the disease by 2020.

But by 2050 the number of sufferers will be close to one million.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) director David Kalisch and Alzheimer's Australia president Ita Buttrose will launch a new report into dementia in Canberra on Thursday.

'An average of 25 people died each day from dementia in 2010,' Mr Kalisch said in a statement.

'(Also) as any person with relatives or friends who have dementia knows it has a marked impact on quality of life not only for those with the condition but their families and friends as well.'

The AIHW report Dementia in Australia reveals the disease was the third leading cause of death in 2010 accounting for six per cent of all deaths. Twice as many women as men die from dementia.

The disease was recorded as the underlying or an additional cause of 14 per cent of deaths in 2010.

The report also shows that of the 300,000 existing sufferers, 62 per cent are women.

Almost three-quarters of people with dementia are aged over 75 and 70 per cent live in the community as opposed to nursing homes.

Read more here:
Dementia rate to triple by 2050-report

By 2050 the number of Australians suffering from dementia will be close to one million, a new report suggests.

It is estimated around 300,000 Australians currently have dementia and it's thought 400,000 people will be suffering from the disease by 2020.

But by 2050 the number of sufferers will be close to one million.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) director David Kalisch and Alzheimer's Australia president Ita Buttrose will launch a new report into dementia in Canberra on Thursday.

'An average of 25 people died each day from dementia in 2010,' Mr Kalisch said in a statement.

'(Also) as any person with relatives or friends who have dementia knows it has a marked impact on quality of life not only for those with the condition but their families and friends as well.'

The AIHW report Dementia in Australia reveals the disease was the third leading cause of death in 2010 accounting for six per cent of all deaths. Twice as many women as men die from dementia.

The disease was recorded as the underlying or an additional cause of 14 per cent of deaths in 2010.

The report also shows that of the 300,000 existing sufferers, 62 per cent are women.

Almost three-quarters of people with dementia are aged over 75 and 70 per cent live in the community as opposed to nursing homes.

Read more:
Dementia rates to triple by 2050-report

Alzheimer's Australia president Ita Buttrose says she is surprised that close to 24,000 people under 65 had dementia in 2011.

She hopes data, released in a new report on Thursday, will convince policy makers to put more money into researching the illness.

'Dementia is grossly under funded in relation to other chronic diseases,' she said in Canberra.

'Now is the time to act if we are to tackle the dementia epidemic.'

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report into dementia reveals that the number of people suffering from dementia is expected to triple to 900,000 by 2050.

It is estimated about 300,000 Australians have dementia and it's thought 400,000 people will be suffering from the disease by 2020.

The AIHW report Dementia in Australia reveals the disease was the third leading cause of death in 2010 accounting for six per cent of all deaths. Twice as many women as men die from dementia.

But the figure that caught Ms Buttrose's eye was that 23,900 people under 65 suffered from dementia in 2011.

'This is significantly higher than other figures that I have seen,' she said.

Ms Buttrose renewed her call for the government to provide $200 million for dementia research in the 2013/14 budget.

Read the original:
Dementia grossly under funded - Buttrose

Latest Mental Health News

By Brenda Goodman, MA WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Sept. 27, 2012 -- Seniors who take certain kinds of drugs to treat anxiety or insomnia may be more likely to develop dementia than those who do not, a new study shows.

Seniors are often prescribed benzodiazepines or similar drugs to help with sleeping problems or anxiety. And even though most of these drugs are only meant to be used for a few weeks or months at a time, the drugs can be habit forming. Studies have found that many older adults stay on them longer, sometimes for years.

The new study, which is published in the BMJ, compared the risk of dementia in two groups of French seniors -- 95 who were recent users of any of 23 benzodiazepines or similar drugs at the start of the study and 968 who were not.

During the next 15 years, doctors diagnosed 253 cases of dementia. Thirty people (32%) who had taken benzodiazepines or similar drugs developed memory loss and difficulty thinking, compared to 223 people (23%) who had not taken them. Drugs used by people in this study included Ambien, Halcion, Klonopin, Restoril, Valium, and Xanax.

Even after accounting for other things that are known to affect brain function, like age, living alone, depression, high blood pressure, and diabetes, researchers found that seniors who took benzodiazepines were about 60% more likely than those who didn't to develop dementia.

The study doesn't prove that benzodiazepines cause declines in memory and brain function. And researchers say very short-term use of the drugs is probably safe.

But other experts say seniors may want to avoid the drugs altogether.

See the article here:
Insomnia, Anxiety Drugs May Raise Dementia Risk

A POPULAR anti-anxiety drug has been linked with an increased risk of dementia in pensioners, according to new research.

Patients over the age of 65 who start taking benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, have a 50 per cent increased chance of developing dementia within 15 years compared with people who had never used the drug, according to the study.

Researchers from the University of Bordeaux, France, warned that "indiscriminate widespread use" of the drugs, which are also used to treat insomnia, should be cautioned against.

The drug is widely used in many countries. In France 30 per cent of people over the age of 65 take benzodiazepines. Many administer the drug for long periods despite guidelines suggesting it should only be used for a few weeks.

The research, which is published on bmj.com, examined 1063 people with an average age of 78 over two decades. They had never taken the drug before and were all free from dementia.

They found that 95 patients started taking benzodiazepine during the study.

After a 15-year follow-up, 253 people developed dementia. Of these, 30 had begun to take the drugs between three and five years into the study.

The chance of dementia occurring in those who had taken the drugs was 4.8 per 100 "person years" - a statistical measure representing one person at risk of development of a disease during a period of one year.

Of those who had not taken the drugs the likelihood was measured to be 3.2 per 100 person years, the researchers found.

"In this large, prospective, population based study of elderly people who were free of dementia and did not use benzodiazepines until at least the third year of follow-up, new use of benzodiazepines was associated with a significant, approximately 50% increase in the risk of dementia," the authors wrote.

Read more:
Drug 'raises elderly dementia risk'

FORMER England footballer Gordon Banks and Sir Michael Parkinson have relived their personal experiences with dementia to inspire the nation to reduce the stigma about the condition.

The pair, alongside broadcaster Fiona Phillips, are also encouraging people who think they have any symptoms of the condition to seek medical advice.

New research from Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) found that a quarter of people hide their diagnosis because of negative connotations surrounding dementia.

Phillips, whose parents both had dementia, said if her mother had been diagnosed earlier then she could have handled the situation better.

"I would have been able to plan more for mum instead of doing everything in a big rush," she said.

"Our house always smelt of baking when we were little and I used to love helping mum make cakes and there were always cakes in the tin.

"She rung me up at 3am one morning crying her eyes out and she said, 'I've forgotten how to make cakes.' And my childhood went then."

"The ultimate problem you have to face with anyone who has any form of dementia is that you lose them before they die," Parkinson said.

"I lost my mother 18 months to a year before she died and that is the ultimate desperate tragedy."

Banks, whose brother David suffered from the condition, recalled, "We sat in the lounge talking to him and we would ask him a question and he would just go blank - he wouldn't answer it - he couldn't remember what we were discussing."

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UK stars reveal dementia heartbreak

A man suffering from dementia and reliant on a walking frame has been found nearly 200km from a Hobart nursing home after going missing.

The 67-year-old man, diagnosed with severe dementia, has been unable to tell police why he walked out of the St Anns home wearing slippers in wet weather and caught a bus to Launceston.

Locals found the confused man wandering a South Launceston street, to the relief of police who had concentrated their search around the home after hed gone missing at about midday on Sunday.

Because of his walking frame our focus was making sure he wasnt somewhere in the complex, and then we focused on about a 500m radius, police inspector Colin Riley told AAP.

With dementia youre more likely to have just stumbled into someones yard and fallen over or something like that.

The search was made more urgent by the possibility that the man could have collapsed because hed missed his scheduled dose of insulin, Inspector Riley said.

A bus ticket was found in one of his pockets and relatives told police he had lived in Launceston 20 years ago, but nowhere near the street where he was found.

He didnt know where he was and he didnt know how he got there, Riley said.

The man was taken to Launceston General Hospital before being transported back to Hobart.

Police have thanked the public for their help.

See the article here:
Slipper clad dementia sufferer far from home

The Ann Arbor District Library will host an informational program about http://www.lbda.org">Lewy Body Dementia from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Downtown Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave., in Ann Arbor.

The talk will feature local medical professionals and people helping loved ones cope with the disease.

Washtenaw County resident Tamara Real watched helplessly for two years as her husband, Carl Rinne, withdrew from life before he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia in in 2010.

Real's experience is not an unusual one among Lewy Body Dementia caregivers, though she was not aware of how prevalent the problem was at first.

Then Real found the Lewy Body Dementia Association and learned that most Lewy Body Dementia families are faced with educating not just their friends and families about Lewy Body Dementia, but sometimes physicians and nurses as well.

When LBDA launched its nationwide October awareness movement, "A Month to Remember," in order to raise Lewy Body Dementia awareness, Real volunteered.

Lewy body dementia is a progressive brain disease that is misdiagnosed more often than not.

In a study by the Lewy Body Dementia Association, family caregivers reported that Lewy Body Dementia was not the first diagnosis in 78 percent of cases.

Despite an estimated patient population of 1.3 million people in the U.S., Lewy Body Dementia is most often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or a psychiatric disorder.

"Given the growing population of older Americans, at some point in your life Lewy Body Dementia will likely affect someone you know," said Angela Herron, president of LBDA's board of directors, in a news release. Continued...

View original post here:
ANN ARBOR: District library to host Lewy Body Dementia talk Oct. 16

The man told police he had lived in Launceston 20 years ago.

A man suffering from dementia and reliant on a walking frame has been found nearly 200 kilometres from a Hobart nursing home after going missing.

The 67-year-old man, diagnosed with severe dementia, has been unable to tell police why he walked out of the St Ann's home wearing slippers in wet weather and caught a bus to Launceston.

Locals found the confused man wandering a South Launceston street, to the relief of police who had concentrated their search around the home after he'd gone missing at about midday on Sunday.

"Because of his walking frame our focus was making sure he wasn't somewhere in the complex, and then we focused on about a 500-metre radius," police inspector Colin Riley told AAP.

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"With dementia you're more likely to have just stumbled into someone's yard and fallen over or something like that."

The search was made more urgent by the possibility that the man could have collapsed because he'd missed his scheduled dose of insulin, Inspector Riley said.

A bus ticket was found in one of his pockets and relatives told police he had lived in Launceston 20 years ago, but nowhere near the street where he was found.

"He didn't know where he was and he didn't know how he got there," Inspector Riley said.

Continue reading here:
Dementia sufferer found 200km from home

Dementia campaigners and supporters gathered in Queens Park on Saturday to release coloured balloons in support of Alzheimers Queensland.

Claudia Baxter

THE Ipswich sky was dotted with turquoise coloured spots on Saturday as Ipswich dementia campaigners released 100 balloons to raise awareness of the deadly disease.

Led by dementia awareness campaigner Debbie Phipps, friends, family and supporters gathered at Queens Park for the second balloon release.

Mrs Phipps hoped the event, held for the first time last year, would continue to push their case for increased funding to find a cure.

Dementia affects 280,000 Australians, and by 2050 the number of people suffering from the disease is expected to reach one million.

Mrs Phipps said since beginning to campaign for the cause last year she had educated many people unaware of the devastating effects of dementia.

"A lot of people are really happy and have learnt things about dementia they didn't know about. A lot of people don't know much about it," she said.

"It's that support and knowing someone else cares and understands."

Among the supporters on Saturday was Patti Gerchow, who watched her mother succumb to dementia symptoms.

Read the original here:
Balloons raise dementia awareness

CHICAGO, Sept. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Seventy-five (75) percent of people with dementia and 64 percent of caregivers believe there are negative associations for those diagnosed with dementia in their countries, according to survey fielded by Alzheimer's Disease International and published today in the World Alzheimer Report 2012: Overcoming the Stigma of Dementia. The report was released on Alzheimer's Action Day as part of World Alzheimer's Month activities engaging people in the cause and raising awareness about the disease.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57800-world-alzheimer-report-2012-overcoming-negative-stigma-dementia

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120921/MM77915 )

In response, Alzheimer's Association Early-Stage Advisors, men and women from across the U.S. living with the disease, and their caregivers developed tips on how to cope with the stigma surrounding Alzheimer's based on their personal experiences.

"The Report reveals that people with dementia and their care partners often feel disconnected from society, and sometimes even by their own friends and family members," said Beth Kallmyer, MSW, vice president of constituent services at the Alzheimer's Association. "The misconceptions and stigma create unnecessary barriers to progress such as improving care and support services and increasing funding for research."

In the current Report, nearly one in four people with dementia (24 percent) who responded to the survey said they hid or concealed their diagnosis, citing stigma as the main reason. They expressed concerns that their thoughts and opinions would be "discounted and dismissed," and that they would be "treated more positively" if they did not reveal their diagnosis.

The authors noted that social exclusion was a "major theme" with 40 percent of people with dementia in the survey reporting they have been avoided or treated differently because of their dementia. Respondents said their friends and family "say they don't know how to behave 'normally' around me anymore," and many have "drifted away."

A survey respondent with dementia from the U.S. said: "It's very interesting to see how people close to me act. It's almost as if they are afraid of bringing up the subject. Being a cancer survivor, I know that I was constantly asked how I was doing while I was going through treatment. With Alzheimer's, no one asks."

The report found that when people with dementia are able to make new connections, it is often with people in similar circumstances. Sixty-six (66) percent of survey respondents who have dementia said that they have made friends who are connected to dementia, often finding each other through community-based support groups, online chat or bulletin boards, or through Alzheimer associations.

"People with dementia, especially in the early and middle stages, can take part in many everyday activities. They have the same needs as everyone else for social interaction and engagement in meaningful activities, even in the later stages of the disease. We encourage people living with Alzheimer's or another dementia to be involved in making decisions that affect them for as long as they can, to help maintain their autonomy, dignity and self-esteem," Kallmyer said.

See original here:
World Alzheimer Report Reveals Negative Perceptions About People With Dementia

THE Alzheimers Society Dementia Community Roadshow will visit the Isle of Wight this week, offering advice and information about the condition.

It will be at the Tesco store, Ryde, today (Tuesday) and tomorrow, from 10am to 4pm.

People living with dementia and those worried about a friend or relative are encouraged to drop by with any questions.

Carol Elliott, services manager at the Alzheimers Society, said: "The roadshow is pioneering as it helps us reach out to communities, tackle stigma by raising awareness of the condition and encourage people who are worried about their memory to visit their GP."

MP Andrew Turner, who will be visiting the roadshow today morning, said: "It is estimated there are more than 2,500 Islanders suffering from dementia but less than 40 per cent of them have received a formal diagnosis.

"The onset of dementia can be confusing and frightening, both for the person affected and for those around them so I welcome this free drop-in service coming to the Island so people can easily find out information about the condition.

"They can also get information about what help and support is available, such as the excellent Alzheimers Cafes, which are now held regularly in four Island towns."

Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk

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Dementia information roadshow on the Isle of Wight

FOR Christmas in 2005, Diana Fayle's mother Jan Riley drove herself to Warranwood to celebrate with her family.

"But by 2006, she didn't even know what the telephone was or how to use it,'' Ms Fayle said.

Mrs Riley, 69, had dementia - and the illness progressed quickly.

"Mum first started showing signs of memory loss in 2004, but by 2006 we knew there was something wrong,'' she said.

A piano teacher for more than 40 years, Mrs Riley's students began calling Ms Fayle about strange things that were happening during lessons.

The family first put in programs such as home help to keep Mrs Riley at home, but it was soon apparent she needed more care.

"She got to the point where she didn't know the difference between day and night,'' Ms Fayle said.

With a new baby herself, Ms Fayle said it was difficult finding the right home for her mother.

"We wanted to do what was right and best for her, and that meant making difficult decisions,'' she said.

"Finding the right nursing home was paramount.''

Read the original post:
Remembering dementia's toll in Warranwood

Sep 18 2012

Care services for people with dementia need a radical overhaul, Alzheimer Scotland has said.

Many of Scotland's estimated 84,000 sufferers do not receive the co-ordinated health and social support that is vital to help them live in the community, the charity said.

Carers, partners and families of sufferers are also lacking essential support as a result of the current "fragmented" care system.

Alzheimer Scotland wants to see a co-ordinator appointed to oversee the treatment and care of dementia patients. This may include access to psychological services and regular reviews of patients' wellbeing.

It is one of a number of recommendations outlined in its new report, Delivering Integrated Dementia Care: The Eight Pillars Model of Community Support. The charity hopes the document will act as a blueprint for local authorities and NHS boards.

Dementia includes a range of brain diseases of which Alzheimer's is the most common. It predominantly affects older people.

An ageing population means that, based on current estimates, the number of people with dementia will double within the next 25 years.

Henry Simmons, chief executive of Alzheimer Scotland, said: "We wish to work alongside the Scottish Government, NHS Boards, local authorities and other bodies to ensure they use the Eight Pillars as a portal to deliver equal access to the best possible treatments and support for every person with dementia.

"Only through doing this can we be sure that we are using resources to the best possible effect to enable people to live in their own homes, in their own communities and with their families for as long as they choose.

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Dementia care 'needs overhaul'

Prevention is the most powerful medicine in the fight against dementia and Alzheimer's disease, a leading international researcher says.

'Prevention is very important, more than any drugs we have or plan to develop,' said Serge Gauthier, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Research Unit at McGill University in Canada.

Dr Gauthier, who is in Australia for a series of seminars to coincide with Dementia Awareness Week, said the majority of dementia cases in those aged over 85 were preventable.

Small strokes were key contributors to dementia in this group, he said.

Making lifestyle changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption could reduce the risk of strokes, Dr Gauthier said.

'This is where we can have an impact right now,' he told AAP.

'If you can prevent small strokes, you probably delay dementia by 10 years.'

However, another component of dementia and Alzheimer's is the build-up of naturally occurring ameloid proteins in the brain.

Dr Gauthier said the role of ameloids is still unknown but it is thought the proteins may help protect against infection.

But in larger quantities the proteins can become problematic.

Read more:
Dementia expert says prevention is best

19 September 2012 Last updated at 13:13 ET By Adam Brimelow Health Correspondent, BBC News

A leading health research charity says drugs companies may "retreat" from dementia research without more support.

Alzheimer's Research UK says more government hep is needed to ensure the industry does not "retreat" from the challenge of finding new drugs.

The warning follows disappointing results in recent clinical trials.

The pharmaceutical industry body, the ABPI, says there are over 200 medicines under development for Alzheimer's.

It is estimated that more than 800,00 people in the UK have dementia. The majority have Alzheimer's Disease.

The numbers affected are growing fast, and the search for new treatments ever-more urgent.

But this summer two big trials have reported disappointing results. The drugs - bapineuzumab and solanezumab - failed to show benefits that researchers had hoped to see.

Alzheimer's Research UK fears companies may decide that putting resources into dementia is too risky. The charity's science director, Dr Eric Karran, said the trial setbacks were "very disappointing". He warned that companies may be deterred from investing in dementia.

"If you're running a business and you have options to find important new medicines in cancer, in diabetes or in neuroscience inevitably I think you have to place your bets where ultimately you will get a better chance of a return on your investment."

Originally posted here:
Dementia research 'is in danger'

MILWAUKEE, WI--(Marketwire - Sep 18, 2012) - Dementia Care Specialists (DCS) has recognized Provision Living at Godfrey, in Godfrey, IL as the third facility nationally to achieve the status of Distinguished Provider -- the highest credential in dementia care.

DCS is a specialized offering of CPI, the worldwide leader in crisis prevention and intervention training. Launched in 2011, the Distinguished Provider program signifies a commitment to the DCS training philosophy and abilities-based approach, which helps improve function, safety, and quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's/dementia.

"When people look for a long-term care facility, they want to select a place that they trust will offer the best and most attentive care for themselves or their loved ones. That trust is exactly what the Distinguished Provider status communicates. It is a seal of approval from industry leaders," said Kim Warchol, OTR/L, Dementia Care Specialists president and founder.

A Distinguished Provider demonstrates a commitment to high-quality, person-centered dementia care. This includes compliance with training standards and the implementation of CPI's Dementia Capable Care training and principles. For individuals at all stages of Alzheimer's/dementia, these principles promote the highest possible level of function, maximize health and safety, and help maintain dignity and quality of life.

With more than 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer's/dementia, and many more projected over the coming years, the level of care provided by Provision Living at Godfrey can serve as an example and help elevate the standard of dementia care in the US.

In addition to recognizing facilities, DCS also recognizes therapists and care partners who demonstrate the passion, heart, and skill to deliver Dementia Capable Care. DCS welcomes both facilities and individual practitioners to apply for the Distinguished Provider program. The application and additional information are available at crisisprevention.com/dcs.

CPI is an international training organization committed to best practices and safe behavior management methods that focus on prevention. Through a variety of specialized offerings and innovative resources, CPI educates and empowers professionals to create safe and respectful work environments and enrich the lives of the individuals they serve.

For more information about CPI and DCS, visit crisisprevention.com.

For more information about Provision Living at Godfrey, visit http://www.provisionliving.com/godfrey-illinois-independent-assisted-living-Provision-Living/

See the article here:
Godfrey Dementia Care Facility Recognized as Distinguished Provider

She said: These responses provide an intriguing insight into the reality of the UKs poor levels of diagnosis for Alzheimers Disease.

"The findings suggest an unwillingness to engage on both sides of the consulting room table, leading to a conspiracy of silence around this devastating disease.

"While companies like Lilly search for new medicines to help treat Alzheimers, we must all work together to reduce the stigma that is holding early and accurate diagnosis back.

Almost three-quarters of the doctors surveyed cited the lack of a definitive dementia test as a reason for their reluctance to raise the matter with patients. Telling early dementia from normal ageing can be difficult.

In the past GPs have sometimes refrainedgiving patients the bad news - even those with clear signs - because little could be done for them.

However, now drugs are available on the NHS that can slow the advance of Alzheimers, the most common form of dementia. The earlier they are given, the better.

Dementia is thought to affect around 800,000 people in Britain, but only four in 10 have received a formal diagnosis, according to The Alzheimers Society.

The survey results were released ahead of World Alzheimers Day, which is tomorrow (Friday).

Read this article:
'Conspiracy of silence' over dementia in the doctor's surgery