Many people with dementia wait a long time before getting a proper diagnosis.
A new study led by researchers from University College London (UCL) has found that on average, people are diagnosed with dementia about 3.5 years after their first symptoms appear. For those with early-onset dementia, the wait is even longer—around 4.1 years.
This research is important because it’s the first of its kind to combine and analyze data from studies around the world. The team reviewed 13 earlier studies from countries like the US, UK, Australia, and China, covering information from over 30,000 people.
The goal was to find out how much time passes between when symptoms are first noticed and when a diagnosis is finally made.
Dementia is a condition that affects how the brain works, making it harder to remember things, think clearly, or carry out everyday activities. It often gets worse over time. Early-onset dementia happens before the age of 65 and can be especially difficult to identify because it is less expected.
The researchers looked at how symptoms were first reported, either by patients themselves or by family members, and compared that to the date when doctors officially diagnosed dementia. The average delay was 3.5 years. This delay can have a big impact, as it may prevent people from getting early treatment, support, and planning.
One of the study’s authors, Dr. Vasiliki Orgeta from UCL’s Division of Psychiatry, said that diagnosing dementia early is a major global challenge.
Many cases of dementia are never diagnosed, especially in countries with fewer healthcare resources. Even in wealthy countries, it is estimated that only about half of all dementia cases are diagnosed.
Dr. Orgeta explained that getting a diagnosis early can help people access treatments and stay in the early, mild stage of the condition for longer. However, many barriers prevent this from happening.
The study found that some people face longer delays than others. For example, younger people and those with a type of dementia called frontotemporal dementia tend to wait longer for a diagnosis. This may be because their symptoms are harder to recognize or are mistaken for something else.
There is also limited research on how race affects diagnosis times, but one study included in the review found that Black patients faced longer delays before being diagnosed.
Other experts involved in the research noted that there are many reasons why dementia is diagnosed so late. Some people think that memory problems are just part of getting older.
Others may avoid seeing a doctor because they are afraid or don’t understand what is happening. Language barriers and lack of culturally appropriate tests can also slow down the diagnosis process, especially in diverse communities.
Inside healthcare systems, delays can happen because family doctors may not refer patients to specialists quickly enough, or because memory clinics are underfunded and overcrowded. Sometimes there is simply not enough awareness among healthcare professionals about how to recognize early signs of dementia.
The researchers believe that more needs to be done. Public education campaigns can help people understand the symptoms of dementia and encourage them to seek help sooner. Doctors and nurses should get better training to recognize dementia early. And health systems need to make sure people can access memory clinics and specialists when needed.
In conclusion, this study highlights a major gap in dementia care. On average, people wait years before getting diagnosed, which means they miss out on early support and planning. The study shows the need for changes at many levels—from public awareness to healthcare services—so that people with dementia can get the help they need sooner.
If you care about dementia, please read studies that eating apples and tea could keep dementia at bay, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health.
For more health information, please see recent studies what you eat together may affect your dementia risk, and time-restricted eating: a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
The study is published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
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