People are diagnosed with dementia an average of 3.5 years after symptoms first appear, with early-onset cases facing longer waits of around 4.1 years, new research has foubd.
The first global review of dementia diagnosis delays analysed data from 30,257 people in Europe, the US, Australia and China.
Delays were longest in younger people and in those with frontotemporal dementia – a less common type that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. Limited data also suggested Black patients may face longer delays.
Researchers from UCL led the systematic review and meta-analysis, which found that only 50 to 65 per cent of dementia cases are ever diagnosed in high-income countries, with even lower rates elsewhere.
Lead author Dr Vasiliki Orgeta from UCL Division of Psychiatry said: “Timely diagnosis of dementia remains a major global challenge, shaped by a complex set of factors, and specific health care strategies are urgently needed to improve it.
“Timely diagnosis can improve access to treatments and for some people prolong the time living with mild dementia before symptoms worsen.”
The study combined findings from 13 previously published studies that measured the time between the onset of symptoms – as reported by patients or family members through interviews or medical records – and a formal diagnosis.
Dr Phuong Leung, also from UCL Division of Psychiatry, said: “Symptoms of dementia are often mistaken for normal ageing, while fear, stigma, and low public awareness can discourage people from seeking help.”
Additional delays stem from health system barriers including inconsistent referral pathways, limited specialist access and under-resourced memory clinics.
Dr Orgeta said: “Public awareness campaigns can help improve understanding of early symptoms and reduce stigma, encouraging people to seek help sooner.
“Clinician training is critical to improve early recognition and referral, along with access to early intervention and individualised support so that people with dementia and their families can get the help they need.”
