Diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer's is on
the rise, with serious consequence for health and social care budgets, but
sufficient resource also has to be allocated to research that could lead to an effective
treatment.
We have known for long enough that Alzheimer’s disease, and
dementia, will represent the greatest challenge to the health service in the
future. It is accepted that these conditions will become this country’s biggest
killer as the population ages, ahead of cancer. But did we imagine that the
number of deaths caused by Alzheimer’s disease would triple in Scotland in a
year? It’s a startling statistic, and although a change in the recording of
deaths will have contributed partly to the rise, this factor alone is unlikely
to be responsible for a 33.4 per cent rise in the number of Alzheimer’s deaths
from March to June this year, compared to the same period last year.
If the
disease was previously known as a demographic time bomb, perhaps that
description is already out of date. There is consolation to be taken from this
story as well, however. Deaths caused by Alzheimer’s indicate diagnosis was
achieved – which has not always been the case, with diagnosis often delayed
until confirmed at death in previous years – and with diagnosis should have
come the support that each person required during his or her struggle. For the
Scottish Government, increased diagnosis means increased support costs and
increased pressure on already stretched resources. But there is no choice in
this matter. Dementia will prove to be a heavy drain on social care and health
budgets, and we have to prepare for the incidence of these conditions rising.
The Scottish Government has been committed to free personal care, and this
month announced its intention to extend that level of care to those under 65
with degenerative conditions, by 2019. If we continue to see exponential growth
of dementia, is this level of commitment sustainable? Will an adjustment be
required? Forecasts will have to be revised. Alzheimer’s Research UK has
responded to the increased death rate with a call for greater funding for
research, highlighting its goal of developing a “life-changing treatment for
dementia by 2025”.
At present, it would seem optimistic to believe a treatment
will be available within eight years. But the call for increased funding should
be heard. In the battle that lies ahead, there will be a temptation to focus on
how we care for those affected. We cannot lose sight of the need to explore a
way of controlling this appalling illness which, sooner or later, will touch
every family.
SOURCE:The Scotsman
Early diagnosis and earlier treatment for sufferers is key but without adequate resources this is going to be difficult to achieve. As always extra funding is essential. The drain on social care and health budgets is already immense.
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