More people who have dementia are being diagnosed earlier in London’s East End compared to the rest of the country, latest NHS statistics reveal.
Local GPs rank third in London for their dementia diagnosis rates, with 85 per cent of their patients aged 65 and over receiving help compared to the national average of just under 68pc.
“But there are still an estimated 200 people in the East End with dementia without a diagnosis who could benefit from support,” local GP Dr Judith Littlejohns said. “People can live well with the condition with the right support and continue doing what they enjoy for a number of years.”
An earlier diagnosis means people can get more support at home rather than having to go to hospital, Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group stresses.
Signs and symptoms include memory loss with recent events, forgetting messages, routes and names or asking questions repetitively, the GPs’ group points out.
Other signs include difficulty with organising and planning, becoming confused in unfamiliar environments, difficulty finding the right words and numbers or handling money in shops, as well as personality and mood changes. Those with early dementia sometimes do not recognise the symptoms.
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