ALMOST a third of dementia diagnoses in Australia are incorrect, a medical expert says.

A federal inquiry into early diagnosis and intervention for dementia has heard that 30 per cent of patients diagnosed with dementia are later found to be suffering from other conditions.

Dr Robert Prouse, from the Royal Australian College of Physicians, says other conditions such as depression can mimic the symptoms of dementia.

“There’s a whole range of things that can present as cognitive decline that need to be tested along the way and that’s where specialists come into it,” Dr Prouse told the inquiry in Sydney on Friday.

“It’s probably common enough to say a third of patients improve, lose their depression and have a new outlook on life.”

“We’ve had a number of people who have had significant cognitive decline,” Dr Prouse said.

“By treating their sleep apnoea and improving nocturnal oxygenation, they’ve come back to normal.”

The inquiry by the House of Representatives Health and Ageing Committee is examining whether dementia should be made a National Health Priority Area due to its growing prevalence in communities.

Dementia in Australia is expected to triple by 2050.

Link:
One in three dementia cases misdiagnosed

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