The Ministry of Health launched revised Dementia Clinical Practice Guidelines on Friday. These updated guidelines cover the ethical and legal issues related to dementia and management aspects of young onset dementia among other things.

Young onset dementia is where those aged under 65 are diagnosed with the condition. Of the 1,500 new dementia patients that the National Neuroscience Institute has seen over the past three years, about 40 per cent have this condition which can be reversed with proper treatment.

"As Singapore's population ages, the number of people suffering from dementia is expected to rise. It is therefore important for our healthcare professionals to keep themselves up to date on developments in dementia care," said Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong, who was guest-of-honour at the 3rd Singapore International Neurocognitive Symposium on Friday.

At the event, a new programme was also launched. This programme will see neurologists working more closely with primary care doctors or those in polyclinics. The number of people suffering from dementia is projected to rise to 55,000 by 2020, up from the current 25,000 today, according to the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI).