Call for comments regarding population screening for dementia in the UK

On June 17, 2025, the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), which advises ministers and the NHS in all four UK nations on matters related to population screening, launched a consultation on the 2025 evidence review concerning dementia screening in adults.

Dementia remains one of the conditions regularly assessed by the UK NSC for potential inclusion in national screening programmes. At present, dementia is not recommended for population screening (a position previously based on the committee's 2019 evidence summary).

The 2025 evidence map identified a substantial volume of new published evidence since 2019. However, the review found that the newly available evidence does not support a change in the current recommendation. Key findings include:

• Most of the identified screening tests were questionnaire-based cognitive tools, and their effectiveness as a screening tool remains unclear;
• Research on protein biomarker tests is in its early development stages;
• New drug treatments such as donanemab and lecanemab are yet to demonstrate clear benefits for people before symptoms develop or those with early symptoms of dementia, especially when safety concerns and associated costs are considered;
• Non-drug treatments tend to be complex or experimental, lacking links to population screening.

Based on these findings, the evidence map concluded that screening for mild cognitive impairment and/or dementia is not supported by the current evidence. The review recommended not commissioning further work on the topic at this time but suggested that evidence be revisited in three years.

The UK NSC is inviting stakeholders and the public to submit feedback on the review and its conclusions. The consultation will remain open until September 9, 2025.

See the full details here.

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