Family Members Could Play Key Role in Identifying Dementia Warning Signs Before Diagnosis, New Study Finds

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing said family caregivers and professional care assistants can retrospectively flag signs of dementia in those who go on to develop the condition, which could lead to earlier diagnosis, reports Medical Xpress . The research involved four hour-long focus groups. During the sessions, family caregivers and professional care assistants answered questions about their experiences of someone they cared for developing dementia. People who later developed dementia exhibited pre-clinical symptoms, including becoming annoyed more easily and being less able to cope if things went wrong, and becoming more isolated long before they received a diagnosis. Also emphasized was scope for earlier identification of possible dementia, which could enable individuals to take health advice and delay symptom onset, as well as make plans for their healthcare and finances before they become too unwell. "These pre-clinical signs could allow people to receive a diagnosis sooner, giving persons vital time to plan ahead and share their probable diagnosis with loved-ones," said Birmingham City University's Catharine Jenkins.