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. 2019 Jun;43(3):123-125.
doi: 10.1192/bjb.2018.107. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Against the stream: early diagnosis of dementia, is it so desirable?

Carol Brayne  1 , Sarah Kelly  1
Affiliations

Against the stream: early diagnosis of dementia, is it so desirable?

Carol Brayne et al. BJPsych Bull. 2019 Jun.

Abstract

SummaryThe Prime Minister's challenge on dementia called for improved dementia diagnosis rates, based on assumptions of benefit to individuals and those who care for them. Subsequent policies have led to increased target drives for clinical practice to achieve early diagnosis of dementia through intense case identification. However, the current evidence base and treatment options do not support screening for dementia, and there is little empirical evidence that such intensive case identification and early diagnosis for dementia is justified without a better understanding of the benefits, costs and potential harms to individuals and services.Declaration of interestNone.

Keywords: Dementia; diagnosis; early diagnosis; screening.

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