Routine dementia screening ‘would be a disaster’

THE routine screening of all elderly patients for dementia would be a “disaster”, an expert will warn.

The stigma and anxiety caused by being diagnosed with early dementia – before symptoms are apparent – greatly outweigh any benefits, Dr Chris Fox will say.

The fear is bolstered by the fact that there is not a prospect of a breakthrough in treatment on the horizon, according to Dr Fox, from the University of East Anglia’s medical school.

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At present, routine screening does not take place in the UK, but some have called for it to be rolled out. A diagnosis can be made following cognitive tests and a brain imaging referral.

But Dr Fox, who will speak at the TEDMEDLive healthcare conference in Bristol later today, will say the risk of misdiagnosis is too high.

“World figures for dementia are sky rocketing towards a predicted 60 million in around 10 years,” he will say.

“There is no doubt that we are experiencing a dementia tsunami, with the crest of the wave yet to come. But rolling out routine dementia screening will be an even worse disaster in slow motion.

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People who are diagnosed with very early-stage dementia will be worse off than people who are not diagnosed until their dementia is more apparent.

“Routine screening means that people will be diagnosed long before they start to show symptoms. The problem is that a diagnosis can turn someone’s life upside down years before dementia itself does. The main thing that comes with a diagnosis of early dementia is a deeply unfortunate label. 
And in most cases the stigma attached will do far more harm than good.

“Current tests are not particularly robust and there is a relatively high risk of misdiagnosis so all of this turmoil could be even more unnecessary.

“It is unfair to cause fear and concern when treatments are not available, the chances of the condition actually progressing are not clear, and when symptoms may never take hold in the patient’s lifetime. “

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