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World
Alzheimer Report 2011
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Alzheimer's Disease International
has launched the “World
Alzheimer Report 2011” that shows that there are interventions
that are effective in the early stages of dementia, some of
which may be more effective when started earlier, and that there
is a strong economic argument in favour of earlier diagnosis and
timely intervention.
Key findings
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Dementia
diagnosis provides access to a pathway of evidence-based
treatment, care and support across the disease course.
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Perhaps as many as 28 million of the world’s 36
million people with dementia have yet to receive a diagnosis,
and therefore do not have access to treatment, information,
and care.
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The impact of a dementia diagnosis depends
greatly upon how it is made and imparted.
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Evidence suggests that when people with
dementia and their families are well prepared and supported,
initial feelings of shock, anger and grief are balanced by a
sense of reassurance and empowerment.
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Earlier diagnosis allows people with dementia
to plan ahead while they still have the capacity to make
important decisions about their future care. In addition, they
and their families can receive timely practical information,
advice and support. Only through receiving a diagnosis can
they get access to available drug and non-drug therapies that
may improve their cognition and enhance their quality of life.
And, they can, if they choose, participate in research for the
benefit of future generations.
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Most people with early
stage dementia would wish to be told of their diagnosis.
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Improving the likelihood
of earlier diagnosis can be enhanced through: a) medical practice-based
educational programs in primary care, b) the introduction of accessible
diagnostic and early stage dementia care services (for example, memory
clinics), and c) promoting effective interaction between different
components of the health system.
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Early therapeutic
interventions can be effective in improving cognitive function, treating
depression, improving caregiver mood, and delaying institutionalisation.
It is simply not true that there is ‘no point in early diagnosis’ or that
‘nothing can be done’. Some of these interventions may be more effective
when started earlier in the disease course.
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Available evidence
suggests that governments should ‘spend to save’ – in other words, invest
now to save in the future. Economic models suggest that the costs
associated with an earlier dementia diagnosis are more than offset by the
cost savings from the benefits of anti-dementia drugs and caregiver
interventions. These benefits include delayed institutionalisation and
enhanced quality of life of people with dementia and their carers.
To prepare the report, ADI
commissioned a team of researchers led by Prof Martin Prince at the
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, to undertake the first-ever,
comprehensive, systematic review of all of the evidence on early diagnosis
and early intervention for dementia.
Read the report
The Executive Summary
highlights the main findings, and briefly describes the evidence that
supports them. The full Report documents the methodology and the sources in
greater detail, and includes a careful critique of the quality, the
relevance and the strength of the available evidence.
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