MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has supported a call for better and earlier dementia diagnosis after figures released by the Alzheimer’s Society revealed only 51 per cent of local cases of the disease were being picked up in the early stages.

The charity has red-lighted the area as having a diagnosis rate well below the national average of 66 per cent.

Campaigners said although so far the disease remained incurable, early detection and intervention could greatly improve the quality of life for sufferers.

It helps them to understand their symptoms, provides access to treatment, advice and support, and allows them to prepare for the future and plan ahead.

Mr Liddell-Grainger, who represents West Somerset and will be the Conservative candidate for the new Tiverton and Minehead constituency taking in much of the area around Wellington, said there was a need for greater awareness of Alzheimer’s.

But he said the first step had to come from people who believed they might have contracted the condition, or from their families.

Mr Liddell-Grainger said: “All it takes is a visit to a GP and a quick consultation.

“If a GP thinks their symptoms may be caused by dementia, they will refer the person to a local memory service for more detailed assessment.

“The statistics suggest that many local people are dismissing early onset symptoms such as confusion and memory loss as unimportant, perhaps regarding them merely as routine indicators of ageing when they should be taken seriously and professional help sought.

“The earlier diagnosis can be achieved the more the opportunities there are for mitigating the effects of this devastating disease.”