Major new research by a Bradford professor reveals that the fear of being diagnosed with dementia is putting patients at risk.

Professor Murna Downs, of the University of Bradford's Dementia Group, was the lead researcher in the biggest-ever research study into patient experience of diagnosis of dementia.

The results of the three-year study, funded by the Alzheimer's Society, were published today at the beginning of Alzheimer's Awareness Week.

Key findings show that half of all carers delay visiting their GP after first noticing something wrong, the average length of delay being three years.

Less than a third of GPs and nurses feel confident about giving a diagnosis or talking to someone about their diagnosis and more than a fifth of carers said no one had told them of the diagnosis.

Professor Downs, said: "Three years is far too long for someone to wait. We need to let people know that there are many new services and drug treatments for people with dementia.

"For those who may benefit from new drug treatments, the earlier these are prescribed the better. There is clearly still a lot of stigma and misunderstanding attached to dementia."

The research covered 40 primary care trusts, 120 doctors, 80 nurses, 220 people with dementia and 110 carers in Scotland and London.

Professor Downs worked with colleagues from Stirling University and University College London, to investigate the impact of three different educational interventions to identify which improved dementia care the most.

Ten practices tried small group, problem-based learning groups, where GPs discussed people who had visited the practice who they had concerns about. Ten practices were given a CD Rom, which acts like an electronic booklet giving information about how to diagnose dementia and ten other practices had a decision support system, which links in with the patient electronic records and can be accessed while the patient is in the practice. Ten practices who had nothing acted as a control group.

Prof Downs expects the results to be published in September.

The research also uncovered the need for the holistic care of dementia patients and the need for patients to be given more information on social services support and support in the community, such as the Alzheimer's Society, at the time of diagnosis.