Dementia is being spotted too late, which denies sufferers beneficial treatments and reduces their life expectancy.

As reported by Nursing Times, the Medical Research Council has discovered that people who are actively screened for dementia live for longer than those who are diagnosed by their GPs.

With the number of dementia sufferers expected to double every 20 years, according to The Times, this is something that those in domiciliary care jobs will can expect to encounter regularly.

Researchers found that GPs were recording dementia in a non specific way that failed to differentiate between Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia, which affects the types of long term treatments given to sufferers and the way the disease is managed.

It was also revealed that death rates for people suffering with dementia are more than three times higher in the first year after diagnosis than those without the condition.

Other research published today by the British Medical Journal discovered that tackling depression and diabetes, as well as boosting the intake of fruit and vegetables, could help reduce the number of dementia cases.

Also reported by Nursing Times, this piece of research tested almost 1,500 elderly people for signs of dementia after two, four and seven years. Researchers estimated that eliminating diabetes and depression and eating more fruit and veg could reduce the number of new dementia cases by 20%.

"Effective prevention of diabetes, depression and heart disease could potentially improve the lives of millions of people affected by this cruel condition and reduce the billions spent on dementia care each year," said Professor Clive Ballard, director of research at the Alzheimer's Society.