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January 04, 2012
Low awareness of the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias causes a delay in diagnosis and a subsequent treatment gap for people with dementia. Almost half of respondents (44 per cent) in a national survey released today waited a year to see a doctor because they thought their symptoms were just the signs of old age.
A B.C. survey of 400 caregivers of persons with dementia finds:
- 45 per cent noticed symptoms of dementia in their family or friend between 3 to more than 5 years before seeking a diagnosis.
- 57 per cent of caregivers felt they (or their family member or friend) were reluctant to seek a diagnosis because they either thought the symptoms were part of normal aging, didn’t want to talk about it with anybody, they didn’t want to see their doctor, or they didn’t think anything could be done about it anyway.
- 42 per cent of caregivers surveyed were prompted to see a doctor because the symptoms had become obvious to family and friends and were affecting day-to-day life.
- In 58 per cent of responses, it was the family caregiver who initiated making the appointment to see a doctor for a diagnosis.
In addition to accessing education and information resources to better understand the symptoms being experienced and the changes that can be expected, individuals with dementia and their families can explore treatment options earlier in the progression of the disease and begin to develop support networks.
The opportunity to plan ahead also allows families to make key financial and care decisions and build confidence that the person with dementia can maintain quality of life throughout the dementia journey.
In order to help raise awareness and encourage individuals concerned about memory loss to seek diagnosis from their doctors, the Alzheimer Society of B.C. has launched www.letsfaceitbc.ca. Visit the website and forward it to friends and family to let them know you care about their brain health.
