Pledge to reduce antipsychotic use in dementia sufferers

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDOct 26 2010

A new coalition of 44 organizations called the Dementia Action Alliance, has called for a cut in the use of anti-psychotic drugs for patients with dementia. The coalition includes Alzheimer's Research Trust, Alzheimer's Society, BUPA, Dementia UK, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Royal College of General Practitioners and Stroke Association.

A Government-commissioned review found that nearly 145,000 people with dementia are being wrongly prescribed powerful anti-psychotic medication. These drugs given to curb aggression, agitation, shouting and sleep disturbances kill nearly 1,800 each year. Research shows that people taking them are three times as likely to have a stroke and they are more likely to go into long-term decline.

According to Ruth Sutherland, interim chief executive of the Alzheimer's Society, this alliance provided an “unprecedented opportunity to bring about real change for people with dementia”. She said, “Putting dementia on the map in such a way will not only transform lives but also has the potential to save millions of pounds…There are 750,000 people living with dementia in the UK and this costs the country £20 billion a year. It is without doubt the health and social crisis of this generation so this joint approach cannot come soon enough.”

Care Services Minister Paul Burstow also added, “Dementia is more than a health issue, it's one of the defining social challenges of our time. We have to prepare ourselves now for the impact this will have on our society as our population ages…This Dementia Declaration shows tremendous commitment from across health and care services and the voluntary sector, to transform services and tackle stigma to make a difference for people with dementia and their families. Willingness to join forces to act should spur more organizations to join this movement for change.”

The declaration of the alliance has seven aims, including the reduction in the use of anti-psychotics and patients having more control over decisions, being part of a community and living in an enabling and supportive environment.