Screen all older people for dementia will be a disaster

Screening all older people for signs of dementia would be a "disaster", one leading health expert has warned.

Dr Chris Fox from the University of East Anglia's medical school says screening would be a waste of time as there is currently no cure for the cognitive condition.

He feels the stigma of being diagnosed with dementia before symptoms have come to the fore would simply do more harm than good. He also believes that it would increase the risk of misdiagnosis.

"It is unfair to cause fear and concern when treatments are not available, the chances of the condition actually progressing are not clear, and when symptoms may never take hold in the patient’s lifetime," he stated.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health told the Independent that while there is no benefit to trying to diagnose people with dementia before they show symptoms, the body does encourage people to seek diagnosis and referral swiftly if evidence of the condition shows.