Danish dementia action plan fails to reduce antipsychotic prescriptions despite national goals

Despite intentions to reduce usage, antipsychotic medications continue to be prescribed excessively to individuals with dementia, contributing to increased mortality rates among this population. Eight years ago, the Danish Parliament approved a dementia action plan aimed at halving the use of antipsychotics by 2025. At that time, 16% of dementia patients in Denmark were on such medications, but recent data shows that this figure has remained unchanged.

Gunhild Waldemar, head of the National Dementia Centre, expresses concern over this stagnation, emphasizing the harmful effects of these medications on patients with vulnerable brains. She notes that these drugs can lead to confusion, sluggishness, and a heightened risk of strokes and death.

The action plan established three national goals to tackle dementia by 2025: to ensure that 98 municipalities are dementia-friendly, to increase the number of individuals assessed for dementia with 80% receiving a specific diagnosis, and to reduce the usage of antipsychotic medications by 50%.

The Alzheimer Association, which advocates for those affected by dementia, deems it scandalous that no significant progress has been made. Director Mette Raun Fjordside argues that many patients should not be on antipsychotics but are prescribed them due to insufficient resources in health care.

Christian Harsløf from the Municipalities’ Association echoes these sentiments, highlighting the need for improved collaboration between municipalities and general practitioners. He points to data showing that targeted efforts to reduce prescription rates in nursing homes have been effective, stressing the importance of managing medication use to ensure it is only administered when absolutely necessary.