Fourfold Rise In People Visiting Memory Clinics Over Three Years

Dementia clinics have reported a four-fold rise in the number of people who are worried they may have the condition, prompting them to urge patients to visit their GPs instead to rule out the condition.

According to new figures from the Royal College of Physicians, England's 200 memory clinics saw an average of 1,206 patients in 2013, compared with just 317 in 2010. One-quarter of clinics now have waiting lists for tests longer than six weeks.

Speaking to the Times, Chris Butler, who runs Oxford's Cognitive Disorders Clinic, said publicity surrounding dementia may be responsible for the rising concern. Doctors have cautioned that everyday memory slips, such as losing house keys, are not necessarily indicators of Alzheimer's.

"People who are concerned about symptoms they may be experiencing are prompted to go and seek help from their GP," he said.

"However, we have been concerned that too many people who have been referred by their GP for diagnosis have to wait months for certainty about what is happening to them."

Expert Opinion

While this news highlights how important it is to ensure those with dementia concerns are seeking advice from the right places, it also emphasises how a growing number of people are thinking about the future and the possibility of developing such conditions. <br/> <br/>"This is positive, as the more people consider such issues the more they can take steps to put provisions in place to protect their finances and assets. People should particularly consider whether they have an up to date will which meets their wishes, as well as whether they should put a Lasting Power of Attorney in place to ensure that loved ones are able to manage their affairs should they lose capacity in the future. <br/> <br/>"Taking such steps and discussing those plans at an early stage will reduce the risk of family and friends facing difficult and fractious legal disputes in the future."