In recent years dementia has fallen into the healthcare spotlight and will remain there for some time as our ageing population continues to grow and, as a result, the number of people with dementia rises.

This increase in the number of people with dementia is also due to the ability to better diagnose the disorder – although England’s diagnosis rate remains quite low at 42%, on average.

Without a diagnosis as a starting point, people are denied access to support, help and potential treatments that can help them live well with dementia.

Timely diagnosis requires a committed focus, and so a new Department of Health awareness campaign, supported by the Alzheimer’s Society, starts this month.

The campaign, a key part of the National Dementia Strategy and the prime minister’s challenge on dementia, aims to raise awareness of the symptoms and encourage individuals to discuss any concerns with their GP.

(full story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/healthcare-network/2012/sep/24/primary-care-raising-quality-dementia)