DOCTORS and hospitals across Surrey are to implement new strategies to identify the signs of dementia earlier.
Surrey Downs CCG and Surrey and Borders NHS Partnership Foundation Trust have launched a new joint service to fight the degenerative ailment.
The groups are planning to improve detection rates by implementing several new methods including the use of mental health nurses to identify and screen more patients.
Dr Aalia Khan, of Surrey Downs CCG said: "An increasing number of people know or have known a family member or friend living with this condition which shows have prevalent dementia is becoming.
"We know half the people living in Surrey are undiagnosed, which means they are unsupported and untreated.
"In response, we are introducing a number of measures to address the problem including several council-run health and well-being centres and our link practitioner project."
More than 15,000 people are affected by the brain disease, while at least half that number again remain undiagnosed in the early stages of the condition.
Experts predict more than three-quarters of a million people will be affected by 2030 putting increasing strain on health and social care services as people live longer and become increasingly susceptible to dementia.