KENYA—Global advocacy group Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) has unveiled a new survey showing that a significant majority of people would opt for a dementia diagnosis if an effective treatment were available.
This finding coincides with the launch of ADI’s global awareness campaign for World Alzheimer’s Month, themed ‘#TimeToActOnDementia’ and ‘#TimeToActOnAlzheimers.’
According to the survey, which included 40,000 respondents from 166 countries and territories, at least 90% of participants indicated they would seek a dementia diagnosis if they were aware of an available treatment.
ADI Chief Executive Officer Paola Barbarino attributed this shift in attitude to the approval of new disease-modifying treatments and advancements in diagnostic methods worldwide.
Barbarino emphasized that early diagnosis can provide access to vital information, guidance, and support, enabling people with dementia to adapt, live well, remain in their homes, and stay engaged with their communities and families.
However, she warned that many healthcare systems are ill-equipped to handle the increasing demand for dementia diagnoses, often leaving individuals waiting years for a diagnosis—time they cannot afford to lose.
Even in higher-income countries, there is a shortage of specialists and diagnostic equipment, crucial components for improving both the diagnosis process and post-diagnosis care.
Barbarino expressed frustration that, despite years of advocacy, only 40 governments have fulfilled their commitment to developing a National Dementia Plan, a promise made in 2017 when the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia.
Unfortunately, Kenya, like many other African nations, still lacks a national dementia care strategy.
While the survey’s findings are encouraging and suggest a growing awareness of dementia as a treatable condition, Barbarino pointed out that global awareness levels remain low, and stigma surrounding dementia is still prevalent.
She highlighted that most people now have some experience with dementia, either personally or through someone in their community, recognizing it as a challenging condition for those diagnosed and their loved ones.
This familiarity, Barbarino explained, often leads to stigma, including self-stigma, denial, or failure to recognize symptoms when they appear.
She believes that as awareness of treatment options grows and the process of seeking a diagnosis becomes clearer which starts with a conversation with a doctor on the desire for a diagnosis will naturally increase.
Barbarino stressed the urgency of raising awareness and changing attitudes toward dementia, moving away from the misconception that it is simply a normal part of aging to recognizing it as a chronic condition with available treatment and care options.
“This is why the 2024 World Alzheimer’s Month campaign is themed ‘#TimeToActOnDementia’ and ‘#TimeToActOnAlzheimers,’” Barbarino stated.
“We are challenging everyone to reflect on their attitudes toward dementia while emphasizing that these issues are not just future concerns—they are problems we face today. The time to act is now.”
The survey results on changing attitudes toward dementia diagnosis will be featured in the upcoming World Alzheimer’s Report, which ADI releases annually.
This year, the report is scheduled to be released on Friday, September 20, just before World Alzheimer’s Day.
The theme of this year’s report and the World Alzheimer’s Month campaign is ‘Attitudes to Dementia,’ supported by the global awareness campaign ‘Time to Act on Dementia’ and ‘#TimeToActOnAlzheimers,’ highlighting the need for swift action in this era of new treatments and breakthrough diagnostics
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