Our webinar in October 2023 was led by Dr Jacqui Hussey, Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist and Lead Consultant for the Memory Clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire Healthcare Trust. Dr Hussey presented details of their service improvement project to increase awareness and opportunity for genetic testing in young onset dementia.

The diagnostic process for younger people with dementia should include access to genetic testing if required (RCPsych CR 217), however, this often is not routinely available. The Wokingham Memory Clinic and Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine have developed a multidisciplinary approach to ensure genetic testing can be considered for younger people with dementia and their families. They described their shared pathway and the unique role the Admiral Nurse plays in this.

Dr Hussey was joined by:

Dr Kate Jefferies, Consultant Psychiatrist, Berkshire Healthcare Trust
Lizzie Harrison, Admiral Nurse, Berkshire Healthcare Trust
Dr Andrew Douglas, Consultant in Clinical Genetics, Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine