By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 10:34, Wednesday, 16 January 2013

New figures reveal a 12 per cent rise in people diagnosed with dementia in Cumbria – and experts warn many more remain undetected.

In Cumbria, it has emerged that 3,938 people were diagnosed with the condition in 2012, compared with 3,524 the previous year.

However, campaigners believe the actual number of people living with dementia in the county stands at 7,665 – meaning only 51.4 per cent of them have been diagnosed.

Caroline Burden, area manager for Alzheimer’s Society in Cumbria and the North East, said: “It’s encouraging to see an increase in the number people receiving a diagnosis – but half of people who are living with dementia aren’t receiving the support, benefits and medical treatments that are often available.

“The NHS has already made a commitment to improving diagnosis rates, so now it’s time for that commitment to turn into action, to help ensure people can live well with the condition.”

Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for health, said: “I have committed to making this a year of dementia awareness. I will shortly visit every region, encouraging those responsible to make a difference.

“I want local areas to set ambitious targets for improved dementia diagnosis. We must make England one of the best places in Europe for dementia care.”

The Alzheimer’s Society is distributing thousands of leaflets about the importance of diagnosis to GP surgeries and other community facilities in the North West at the end of January.

The charity’s advice is to speak to your GP if you are worried about your memory and experiencing symptoms such as: struggling to remember recent events (despite being able to recall things that happened in the past), finding it difficult to follow conversations or programmes on TV, having problems thinking and reasoning and regularly forgetting the names of friends or everyday objects.

People who are worried can also contact Alzheimer’s Society on 0845 300 0336 or visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/memoryworry

First published at 10:31, Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk