Dementia Care Shifts too General Practitioners,Potentially Delaying Hospitalization for Advanced Cases
A significant shift in dementia care,transferring obligation to general practitioners,has been identified as a contributing factor to patients arriving at hospitals in more advanced stages of the disease. This often occurs at an older age, when the risk of mortality is considerably higher.
While comorbidities, such as mood swings, personality changes, aggression, sadness, or restlessness, are known to affect individuals with dementia, a recent study deliberately excluded these factors to ensure data comparability across diffrent countries. Researchers plan to investigate the impact of these comorbidities in greater detail in future studies.
Beyond psychosocial support and medication, factors like physical activity, nutrition, and family support also play a crucial role in life expectancy for individuals with dementia. The new insights into survival times offer valuable data not only for family caregivers but also for healthcare facilities and policymakers. this data provides a more accurate basis for assessing the disease burden and planning future care services for those affected.
Dementia is not a singular condition but an umbrella term encompassing various chronic brain diseases, with Alzheimer’s being the most prevalent form. Beyond memory loss, individuals with dementia experience a widespread decline in cognitive functions, including orientation, communication, and logical thinking. Current estimates suggest that approximately 1.8 million people in Germany are living with dementia, a figure projected to rise to between 2.3 and 2.7 million by 2050.