A diagnosis doesn’t automatically result in a lower quality of life or decline in wellbeing

Toby Williamson, Head of Development and Later Life responds to an article published in the British Medical Journal suggesting that we are going too far in terms of screening for dementia and that it may cause more harm than good as the tests aren’t good enough and people will wrongly be labelled with dementia:

‘We agree that screening for “pre-dementia” runs the risk of incorrectly diagnosing some people who have mild cognitive impairment (symptoms similar to early stages of Alzheimer’s disease but not proof of it) as having dementia – with all the negative consequences for them and their families  that this is likely to cause. Because screening tools lack the necessary precision there is quite widespread agreement that they are not the way forward in the UK, although that may be different in other countries with different health funding systems (e.g. USA).

However we would be concerned that members of the public (and indeed professionals) may get confused between this debate and the importance of seeking and receiving a good assessment if they have concerns about their memory or other problems which might indicate a dementia, or a relative or close friend is experiencing these problems. Still only around 40% of people in England who have dementia receive a diagnosis but those that do generally find it much more helpful to know what is happening to them and to plan accordingly, than to be unaware of what is happening, with the confusion and distress this may cause. It is possible to “live well” with dementia, a diagnosis doesn’t automatically result in a lower quality of life or decline in wellbeing, and we know many people with dementia who continue to lead active lives in their communities, and to be able to speak about living with dementia.’