Shifts in concentration may appear before difficulties with recall in individuals developing dementia, suggests a newly released publication.

The work titled A New Approach to Dementia: Examining Attention Impairment ranks among the earliest texts to place attentional problems at the centre of syndrome investigation rather than memory difficulties.

Professor Andrea Tales, holding a personal chair in neuropsychology and dementia studies at Swansea University, serves as the principal contributor and suggested this emphasis could produce improved results for those affected.

Professor Tales noted that collaborating with current and former students had been rewarding and consistently pleasurable. She explained that this volume builds upon their initial publication, which investigated sensory and perceptual alterations and was developed collaboratively alongside individuals experiencing dementia and their family members providing care. She expressed pride in the continued expansion of their joint working methodology, which assists in highlighting dementia aspects that frequently receive insufficient attention.

Drawing upon an expanding collection of research, the writers maintain that modifications in attention occur frequently across various dementia types and that such alterations might facilitate sooner recognition, more precise assessment and superior support.

The publication further explores how attention-related indicators frequently escape detection through existing diagnostic approaches that place significant reliance on memory evaluation.

Its contents encompass theoretical frameworks, clinical application and personal accounts, including a section authored from the viewpoint of a caregiver.

Dr Clive Thomas, who co-authored the work and serves as programme manager for the Strategic Programme for Mental Health at NHS Wales Performance and Improvement, observed that his professional involvement with Professor Andrea Tales since his doctoral studies had proven extremely valuable. He indicated that their partnership has persisted over numerous years, motivated by a common conviction regarding the necessity of systemic transformation and the exploration of dementia aspects that have received limited investigation.

The volume has been released by Taylor & Francis and can currently be purchased.

A subsequent publication from the team, focusing on technology and dementia, is presently being prepared.