Dementia diagnosis takes over 3 years: Study reveals why that's a problem
The research led by University College London (UCL) has found that people with dementia are often diagnosed three and a half years after symptoms first appear, and the delay is even longer, 4.1 years, for those with early-onset dementia.Published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, the study is the first systematic review and meta-analysis of global data examining how long it typically takes for dementia to be diagnosed.The researchers reviewed data from 13 previous studies conducted in the US, Europe, Australia, and China, covering 30,257 participants. They looked at the average time between the first symptoms noticed by patients or their family members and the final medical diagnosis.The study highlights how delays in diagnosis can affect patients and families, and why improving early detection must be a global priority.Dr Vasiliki Orgeta, lead author from the UCL Division of Psychiatry, spoke to Science Direct and said, "Timely diagnosis of dementia remains a major global challenge, shaped by a complex set of factors, and specific healthcare strategies are urgently needed to improve it. Other studies estimate that only 50-65% of cases are ever diagnosed in high-income countries, with many countries having even lower diagnostic rates. Timely diagnosis can improve access to treatments and for some people prolong the time living with mild dementia before symptoms worsen."The researchers found that younger people and those with frontotemporal dementia (changes in personality, behaviour and language) tended to experience longer delays in getting diagnosed.One study also found that Black patients had a longer wait before diagnosis, although data on racial differences was limited.Dr Phuong Leung, also from UCL, explained why delays often happen: "Symptoms of dementia are often mistaken for normal aging, while fear, stigma, and low public awareness can discourage people from seeking help."Although future large-scale studies may provide different estimates, according to the authors, their meta-analysis was based on studies of moderate quality, giving us reasonable confidence in the reported findings.To reduce the time it takes to diagnose dementia, it is essential to understand the social, clinical, and healthcare-related factors that delay diagnosis.- EndsTrending Reel
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
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15 hours ago
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