Memory Clinics ‘in Every Town’ under Alzheimer’s Plan

By Jon Swaine, The Telegraph

February 2, 2009 

United Kingdom

The clinics, "one-stop shops" for diagnosing and treating dementia, are proven to help sufferers earlier than standard NHS services. 

Mr Johnson will give details to Parliament on Tuesday of a national dementia strategy, which he claims will transform the treatment of 700,000 sufferers. 

As well as the plan for more specialised clinics, more money is also likely to be made available to pay for carers. 

Speaking in advance of the announcement Mr Johnson said the plan aimed to help end the taboo surrounding Alzheimer's and similar conditions. 

"The problem with dementia is firstly there's a stigma attached to it, people don't like to talk about their problems so as a result on average it takes three years for someone with dementia to actually go and get diagnosed," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show. 

"It's a bit like cancer was 20 years ago," he added. "It wasn't the subject of polite conversation. But unlike cancer, there is also some pretty cruel humors attached to dementia and Alzheimer's, which is a form of dementia." 

Mr. Johnson said the strategy would prioritize "removing the stigma, raising awareness, getting early diagnosis and better quality of treatment." 

He said it was "crucial" that GPs were better trained to spot the early signs of dementia as inexpensive memory-enhancing drugs could be used if an early diagnosis was made. 

He added: "There are changes to diet and lifestyle that can actually alleviate the onset of dementia." 

There are at least 700,000 people living with Alzheimer's or a related condition in Britain. Phil Hope, the care services minister, said in December the number "is going to double, even treble" over the coming decades. 

It is thought that more than 300,000 sufferers live without any support from the NHS or social services, including home help or respite care. 

Mr. Johnson promised that more support would be offered to those looking after loved ones suffering from the condition at home. 

He said: "Often with dementia the really traumatic effects are on the careers, on the spouses or the families, and so they need help and support as well and they need it very early." 

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