Funding to help detect dementia

Monday 8 August 2005

Researchers at the University of Newcastle have been awarded $499,977 over three years from the National Health and Medical Research Council for research into the detection and management of dementia in general practice.

The research is part of a three state randomised trial including GPs in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and involves researchers from the RACGP, the Universities of Newcastle, New South Wales, Melbourne and Adelaide, and Alzheimer’s Australia.

Chief Investigator Dimity Pond, Professor of General Practice from the University of Newcastle's Faculty of Health, says Alzheimer's Australia estimates that nearly 52,000 people will be newly diagnosed with dementia this year.

"This figure and Australia's ageing population has made detecting dementia an important issue for all GPs, and indeed all health professionals," says Professor Pond.

Professor Pond says a major part of this new research questions whether we should screen all patients over, say 75 years, as opposed to waiting until they start showing concern about memory loss (case detection).

"This research aims to examine a new method and practice guidelines for detection of early dementia. GPs will be upskilled in the latest methods for diagnosis and management of dementia and how to distinguish it from other diseases."

The study will also look at patient outcomes, including quality of life, depression, satisfaction with care and referral indicators.

For interviews with Professor Dimity Pond contact Kate Reid, University of Newcastle Media Unit, (02) 4921 5351.