Dementia and Alzheimers: your questions answered by one of the UK's leading experts

Dementia is one of our biggest health challenges, with millions directly affected.

The UK Government's Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme aims to accelerate the journey of the latest, most effective treatments from labs to dementia patients to improve their lives and cut NHS waiting times.

Through the programme, the Government is investing in key clinical trial infrastructure and clinical research like the Dementia Trials Accelerator. The Accelerator is harnessing AI to support the low-cost delivery of community-based clinical trials, and the establishment of a UK-wide data platform that AI models could use for clinical research.

Researchers are also developing quicker ways of diagnosing the disease, backed by the Government's record £13.9 billion for research and development funding, through new blood tests and exploring looking for proteins specific to many forms of dementia.

Dementia and Alzheimer's: your questions answered

We asked Saga Magazine's online readers for their questions about dementia and Alzheimer's. There were so many we had to collate them into the most important themes and areas of concern.

Here the Co-Chair of the UK Dementia Goals Programme Prof Nadeem Sarwar answers them.

Q: Are there drugs available in the UK on the NHS that can slow the progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s?

A: There have recently been treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease that have become approved by regulators for use in the UK, however, these medicines are not currently approved for use by the NHS.

These treatments slow down the progression of mild or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, only people with a diagnosis of mild or early-stage Alzheimer’s disease are eligible for these treatments.

Q: Are we any closer to getting a treatment for Alzheimer’s to either prevent it or stop the worst symptoms developing?

A: The first wave of disease modifying treatments have been shown to slow the cognitive decline for a number of months, but we do not yet have a treatment that can prevent or reverse the progression of the disease.

Existing symptomatic treatments can also relieve some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s but do not stop it from getting worse.

This is why investment within dementia research is so important, so that we can  learn how we can slow down the progression of the disease further.

Q: Are our local GPs capable of making a diagnosis in the early stages and if not who is and where do we go?

A: If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms or is worried they may have dementia, you should visit the NHS website for guidance around what your next steps should be.

NHS guidance states that your GP will ask about your concerns and what you or your family have noticed. They’ll also check other aspects of your health and carry out a physical examination. They may also organise some blood tests and ask about any medicines you’re taking to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. You’ll usually be asked some questions and to carry out some memory, thinking, and pen and paper tasks to check how different areas of your brain are functioning. This can help a GP decide if you need to be referred to a specialist for more assessments.

Regarding diagnosis, it is currently difficult to make a diagnosis within the early stages of dementia, but researchers are currently trying to develop blood tests and other digital tests of cognition which could support diagnosis at earlier stages.

The Government’s Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme has recently invested in adding a digital cognitive test as a bolt-on to the READ-OUT study, which is part of the Blood Biomarker Challenge, which aims to capitalise on recent breakthroughs in potential dementia blood tests, and generate the evidence needed for them to be validated for use in the NHS within the next 5 years.

The programme has also invested in the Bio-Hermes-002 study to evaluate blood-based and digital biomarkers.

You could also contact Alzheimer’s Society, who offer support services across a range of topics from diagnosis, to connecting you with others, advice on legal and financial matters, and information on available care and support. 

Q: Is there any point in trying to get medical help at this early stage, when there is no cure, and very little available to slow any decline?

A: Yes there absolutely is. It is important that if you or a loved one are experiencing any symptoms or have any reason to believe you may have dementia, you seek medical help.

We understand there may be fear around a diagnosis, but seeking a diagnosis will allow you to manage the disease. There is support available, for example, you could contact Alzheimer’s Society, who offer support services across a range of topics from diagnosis, to connecting you with others, advice on legal and financial matters, and information on available care and support. 

Q: What can I do to reduce my chances of getting dementia?

A: Research has shown that environmental factors may affect an individual’s chance of developing dementia.

The Lancet recently highlighted that less education, hearing loss, hypertension, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, traumatic brain injury [TBI], air pollution, and social isolation, untreated vision loss and high LDL cholesterol could contribute to the risk of developing dementia.

Keeping physically, mentally and socially active may help a person to reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s, however you should refer to the NHS website for further information on prevention.

Q: Is Alzheimer’s/dementia hereditary? 

A: If you have dementia within your family, this does not guarantee that you will also develop dementia. However, research has shown that – like most chronic diseases – genetics does play a part in increasing, or decreasing, someone’s risk of developing dementia.

If you are worried, you should consult your GP and ask if you can participate in any research that may support with monitoring your cognitive function, and this will allow you to assess any changes.

Q: How do you tell the difference between old age forgetfulness and dementia? 

A: Like many other things, your memory and cognitive ability will be affected by age – but dementia is not an inevitability of ageing.

If you are worried that you are being more forgetful, your behaviour and reactions are changing or anything else that seems out of character, it is always best to consult your GP.

There are tests that your GP can do to help distinguish forgetfulness from dementia.