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Dementia

The UK NSC is consulting on whether to change its recommendation on this condition and is accepting public comments.

Closing date: 9th September 2025.

Scheduled UK NSC meeting date: November 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: To respond to this 2025 consultation, please complete the consultation response form (download by clicking on 'View documents') and send it to uknsc@dhsc.gov.uk, or simply email your comments/feedback to uknsc@dhsc.gov.uk.

• Please do not click on the ‘Submit comments’ link because the online comments form is currently not operational and your comments will not be received via this route.

• Please submit your feedback by 11.59pm on 9 September 2025. Please be aware that all responses will be anonymised and published on our website after the final recommendation is made.

About dementia

The term “dementia” is used to describe a range of brain diseases. These cause ongoing decline in thinking skills and the ability to carry out everyday activities such as washing and dressing. Dementia becomes more common as people age and it usually affects people over the age of 65

Read more about dementia on the NHS website.

UK NSC screening recommendation Based on the last UK NSC review of this condition that occurred in April 2019.

Screening is not currently recommended for this condition.

Screening for dementia is not recommended because:

• there are no screening tests which could find people with dementia before they show symptoms
• there is no evidence that current treatments for dementia are effective
• there is concern about how people diagnosed by screening may be affected by dementia related screening

Supporting documents from the 2019 review

Evidence summary Dementia (2019)
This document provides the evidence on which the current UK NSC recommendation is based.

UK NSC coversheet & consultation responses Dementia (2019)
This document summarises the review process including the public consultation comments.

Review cycle

Date previous review completed: 2019

Next review estimated to be completed: 2022 to 2023.

To see previous evidence reviews, visit the UK NSC archive.

Organisations interested in Dementia

These organisations have expressed interest in this recommendation and may submit responses to evidence reviews.

List of organisations

• Alzheimer's Research UK
• Alzheimer's Society
• Association of British Neurologists
• British Geriatrics Society
• Royal College of General Practitioners
• Royal College of Nursing
• Royal College of Physicians
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
• Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
• Royal College of Psychiatrists
• The British Psychological Society

If you think your organisation should be added, please contact us.