The early diagnosis of dementia is a crucial tool in combating and treating the disease before it takes hold and decline begins. Currently, up to 76 per cent of Australians have advanced beyond the early stage by the time of their dementia diagnosis.

As more technology advances and effective treatments become available, early diagnosis will become even more crucial.

Barriers to early diagnosis include: 

• The belief that memory problems are a normal part of ageing.
• The perceived stigma attached to dementia.
• The lack of a cure and fear about the future.  

The early symptoms of dementia can include memory problems, difficulties in word finding and thinking processes, changes in personality or behaviour, a lack of initiative or changes in day-to-day function at home, at work or in taking care of oneself.

It is vital to seek medical help to determine the cause and significance of these symptoms.  

Detection of symptoms and early diagnosis is a step closer, thanks to the release of a free mobile app BrainTrack.

The app helps people privately monitor and better understand suspected changes in their cognition over time.

Dementia Australia, which developed the app, says people can share any concerns with their General practitioner (GP) and use it as a conversation starter to support an earlier dementia diagnosis.

Users log in monthly to play the games on the app. The app generates a PDF report with your results from the game, which can be emailed to your GP. 

The app does not replace a formal cognitive assessment but supports early identification of cognitive changes over time that may warrant further testing. The app enables people with dementia, their families, and carers to better understand dementia and to manage their diagnosis on their terms.

With up to half a million Australians living with dementia and a projected increase to 1.1 million people by 2058, Dementia Australia says improving early diagnosis must be a priority.