DEMENTIA signs start nine years before a doctor can spot it, according to a study.
People who get Alzheimer’s disease start flunking memory and thinking tests nearly a decade before a diagnosis.
Cambridge University experts say early hallmarks could be used to screen people and start treatment earlier.
Lead author Dr Nol Swaddiwudhipong said: “When we looked back at patients’ histories, it became clear that they were showing some cognitive impairment several years before their symptoms became obvious enough to prompt a diagnosis.
“The impairments were often subtle, but across a number of aspects of cognition.
“This is a step towards us being able to screen people who are at greatest risk.”
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The study, published in the journal Alzheimer's & Dementia, used data from half a million Brits aged 40 to 69.
Scientists looked at health data and scores on tests of reaction time, memory, problem solving and grip strength.
People with below average results were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal dementia in the next nine years.
Brain diseases, including Parkinson’s, were also more common in people with worse overall health or who had recently had a fall.
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Almost one million Brits have dementia and it is the leading cause of death in the UK.
Patients do not usually get diagnosed until their symptoms affect daily life.
There is no treatment but experts hope drug trials will be more successful if the condition can be caught earlier.
Senior author on the study, Dr Tim Rittman, added: “People should not be unduly worried if, for example, they are not good at recalling numbers.
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“Even some healthy individuals will naturally score better or worse than their peers.
“We would encourage anyone who has any concerns or notices that their memory is getting worse to speak to their GP.”
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