Alzheimer’s test to provide early diagnosis

Alzheimer’s test to provide early diagnosis

• 5 July 2012
• one comment

UPDATE: SURVEY NOW OPEN

If you are involved in Dementia Care or Commissioning for Mental Health, we would be interested in your views. Please click the link to complete the survey (and be in with a chance to win an iPad2): http://www.trustech.org.uk/cantabmobile/

Starting in June, TRUSTECH will be conducting a survey to identify NHS clinical and commissioning opinions on a newly launched memory test for mild cognitive impairment that may be an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease.

Cambridge Cognition have developed a ten-minute test (CANTABmobile) for use in GP surgeries to distinguish between normal ‘forgetfulness’ and more significant memory lapses that occur in the early stages of dementia. The software runs on an iPad and can be administered by practice nurses or other staff to free up doctors’ time, and is intended to be used as a screening tool to identify patients to refer for full diagnostic tests.  The software app has a large normative database which means that the doctor can answer decisively whether or not a patient’s memory is normal compared to someone of their age, gender and educational background.  Early diagnosis of dementia will enable patients to live independent lives for longer and may help save on healthcare costs.

TRUSTECH will be looking for opinions on the device from GPs, Psychiatrists and others involved in dementia care as well as Healthcare Commissioners. If you are interested in participating in an online survey and giving us your thoughts on commissioning and adopting this innovation into practice please contact: Adrian Warner at TRUSTECH.

There may also be further opportunity to voice your opinions alongside other healthcare professionals at a focus group.

For full details, please visit: www.cantabmobile.com