The benefits of early diagnosis and intervention
Prof Martin Prince, Dr Renata Bryce and Dr Cleusa Ferri, Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, UK
Published by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI). September 2011
Key findings
• Dementia diagnosis provides access to a pathway of evidence-based treatment, care, and
support across the disease course.
• 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.
• The impact of a dementia diagnosis depends greatly upon how it is made and imparted.
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.
• 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.
• Most people with early stage dementia would wish to be told of their diagnosis.
• Improving the likelihood of earlier diagnosis can be enhanced through: a) medical practicebased
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.
• 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.
• 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 antidementia
drugs and caregiver interventions. These benefits include delayed institutionalisation
and enhanced quality of life of people with dementia and their carers.
support across the disease course.
• 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.
• The impact of a dementia diagnosis depends greatly upon how it is made and imparted.
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.
• 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.
• Most people with early stage dementia would wish to be told of their diagnosis.
• Improving the likelihood of earlier diagnosis can be enhanced through: a) medical practicebased
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.
• 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.
• 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 antidementia
drugs and caregiver interventions. These benefits include delayed institutionalisation
and enhanced quality of life of people with dementia and their carers.
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