95 Percent of People Think They Could Develop Dementia With Age

A global study by Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) found 62 percent of healthcare professionals consider dementia to be a natural risk of aging, which could be limiting assistive services, reports Medical News Today . The researchers polled 70,000 people in 155 countries, and estimated that just 16 percent of respondents are receiving regular cognitive evaluations, even though early diagnosis can be helpful. The stigma associated with dementia could be restricting people from getting advice, medical assistance, and support. People's goals and lifestyles also may be constrained, with the study finding that 35 percent of caregivers conceal a diagnosis of dementia in family members from others. "What the report confirmed for us was that stigma and negative attitudes around dementia exist in every setting, although this may present itself in many different ways," said ADI's Annie Bliss. Forty percent of people think healthcare practitioners ignore those with dementia, while as many as 55.8 percent of health professionals concur that their colleagues overlook those living with the disease.