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Dementia – misconceptions abound


Dementia blood test trial gets underway


Welcome to the May issue of The Care Home Environment.


Welcome to the March issue of The Care onment.


home provider Care UK has laid bare many of the misconceptions and fears that people have about dementia. Almost two thirds of the 2,000 people questioned by OnePoll are afraid of developing dementia when they get older. More surprising is the revelation that 11 per cent started worrying about the condition in their 20s. Misconceptions about dementia abound – a fifth of adults wrongly believe that Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are different names for the same thing, while 17 per cent believe that if a member of their family develops dementia, this means that they will, too. While fourteen per cent of those questioned think that people living with dementia cannot lead a meaningful life, over a third admitted that they actually know little about the condition. Even though there are (according


In a new nationwide clinical trial aiming to revolutionise how dementia is diagnosed, research teams will assess how blood tests could be used to detect dementia at various stages. It is hoped that the Blood Biomarker Challenge – a multi-million pound programme supported by Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK, National Institute for Health and Care Research, Gates Ventures, and the People’s Postcode Lottery – could bring dementia blood tests to the NHS within the next five years.


New research commissioned by care


to Alzheimer’s Society) an estimated 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia (a number expected to rise to


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Alzheimer’s Society’s chief policy and research officer Professor Fiona Carragher said: “Around one million people in the UK are living with dementia, but a third of these have not received a diagnosis. This is despite us knowing that an early and accurate diagnosis is key to ensuring everyone has access to the treatment, care and support they deserve. “Blood testing offers the potential to


revolutionise dementia diagnosis in the future, so it’s incredibly exciting to see this project coming to life. “I’ve spent decades working in science and the NHS, and it really does feel like


1.6 million by 2040), Care UK’s research found that 72 per cent of adults have made no effort to learn about the condition. In response, Care UK has launched a new video guide which aims to debunk the myths surrounding dementia and provide support to families whose loved ones have been diagnosed with the condition. Suzanne Mumford, head of nursing,


care and dementia services at Care UK, said: “There are plenty of misconceptions when it comes to dementia, and what this means for the person living with it and their family. “In reality, dementia is a condition that


can be managed to ensure those who live with it can continue to lead fulfilling, meaningful lives and can be supported to still do the things they love. That’s why we’ve launched our latest video guide, One step at a time. Featuring tips from our experts, but also testimonies of residents’ families, it is designed to help people navigate through the dementia journey, from dealing with the initial diagnosis to learning how to live well with dementia.” While the results of Care UK’s research


we’re making progress in the way we treat dementia in this country but we can only treat people once they have that all-important diagnosis. This crucial bit of research is getting us closer than we’ve ever been before.” Dr Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, commented: “Blood tests are showing great promise and they’re quicker, cheaper and easier to administer than current tests. So, it’s incredibly exciting to see the first steps happening with the Blood Biomarker Challenge, which is set to move the dial on dementia diagnosis, giving people the answers they desperately need.” Professor Vanessa Raymont, associate


might be troubling, they are perhaps not all that surprising. The spectre of dementia – along with the prospect of old age itself – is something most of us push to the back of our minds. It is a scary thing to think about, and most of us would prefer not to do so. Yet it is only a matter of time before dementia affects somebody we love, or indeed us personally. Perhaps, then, we all need to be a little braver and find out more about a condition that is almost certain to come into our lives one day. I hope you enjoy the issue.


“Blood biomarker tests could be the


answer to this problem and the good news is that the technology already exists. What we’re missing is the proof that they really do work in a real-world setting. Our research aims to show how the blood tests perform in different UK populations.” I hope you enjoy the issue.


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director, Dementias Platform UK and senior clinical researcher, University of Oxford, said: “We’re in an incredibly exciting time for dementia research right now, with new drugs that can slow early Alzheimer’s disease. “Although these are not yet approved for use in the NHS, we urgently need to revolutionise the way we diagnose people in this country – it will be nothing short of disastrous if people are unable to get a diagnosis early enough to benefit from the new drugs once they do become available. In addition, many people now want and need the more accurate diagnosis blood biomarkers could provide.


THE


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