Mediplacements

GPs failing to identify early-stage dementia

Monday 20th June 2011

Many general practitioners (GPs) are failing to correctly identify dementia in its early stages, research has shown.

A University of Leicester study found that just 45 per cent of people with early dementia and mild cognitive impairment were recognised in the trial.

However, eight out of ten individuals with moderate to severe dementia were identified.

Dr Alex Mitchell, of the university, said: "This study highlights for the first time that GPs trying to identify dementia actually make more false positive errors, with misidentifications outnumbering missed cases at least two to one."

He continued that patients with depression or hearing problems were at the highest risk of being misdiagnosed with dementia.

This follows research from Kent State University which revealed that testing improves many different types of memory rather than just 'target memory'.

According to research Kalif Vaughn, giving a correct answer during a test improved memory performance later on.

Posted by Megan Smith
 

Related articles

• 
  Regional anesthesia 'provides better outcomes for hip and knee replacement patients'Wednesday 1st May 2013

  Administering a regional anesthetic to patients in need of a hip or knee...

• 
  Curative treatment for bladder cancer 'less likely for the aged'Thursday 18th Apr 2013

  A "very worrying, conservative approach" to treating older patients...

• 
  Refurbished medical centre opens in NorthumberlandThursday 28th Mar 2013

  A newly refurbished state-of-the art health centre in Northumberland has opened...

• 
  Doctors more likely to train and work near childhood homeTuesday 19th Mar 2013

  New research has suggested that new doctors are now more likely to train and...

• 
  GPs to pilot consultation with patients over SkypeMonday 18th Mar 2013

  Dr Sifraz Hussain from the Moss Side Family Medical Practice in Manchester has...

• Doctors
  News
  Archive