Dementia should not be ‘forgotten’

The coronavirus pandemic overshadowed development worldwide as other healthcare services were ignored.

Unfortunately – and ironically – one of the forgotten issues during this period was dementia. A recent report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that the world is falling behind with the implementation of the Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025. The UN agency highlighted the paradox: dementia is the seventh leading cause of death globally, yet research accounts for less than 1.5 per cent of total output.

Dementia is not one disease. Rather, this is a general term for impaired abilities to remember, think, or make decisions. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. 

Although dementia is known to affect older adults, it is not a part of normal aging. It’s a disease that can be avoided or treated if we give the proper attention and research.

According to the WHO report, 78 million people could be living with dementia by the end of the decade. According to the medical journal, The Lancet, 11 per cent of all projected health spending would be devoted to dementia. That figure could go up to 17 per cent in alternative scenarios.

Unlike many other diseases, dementia has physical, psychological, social and economic impacts, not only for people living with dementia themselves but also for their carers, families and society. There is often a lack of awareness and understanding of dementia, resulting in stigmatisation and barriers to diagnosis and care.

A blueprint, issued by the WHO, indicates that civil society should ensure that advocacy efforts are also aligned, supporting a more equitable, efficient and collaborative research landscape. 

However, a deep look at the issue will make you wonder why still not enough attention is given to such a disease. One reason may be because it is largely afflicts elderly people. However, it is a fate that no one wants for himself or his loved ones. 

And even those with dementia are still people who still have stories that we want to hear.