Online Reporter
Elliot Ziwira
Feature Writer
AS the world marks World Alzheimer’s Month this September, Zimbabwe is being urged to strengthen early diagnosis and support systems for people living with dementia as the country grapples with a growing, but largely under-recognised, health challenge.
The Zimbabwe Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Association (ZARDA) says early diagnosis can help people living with dementia and their families access treatment, care and support while also confronting the stigma that continues to surround the condition.
World Alzheimer’s Month is an international campaign held every September to raise awareness about dementia and challenge misconceptions surrounding the condition. World Alzheimer’s Day is commemorated annually on September 21.
This year’s campaign is running under the theme: “The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters.”
ZARDA chairperson Kudzai Mpunzwana said the campaign would place particular emphasis on the importance of timely diagnosis while highlighting emerging at-risk groups and people who may be experiencing the condition before symptoms become apparent.
“This September, we will seek to tackle the persistent stigma and discrimination surrounding dementia by shining a spotlight on the timely and important issue of early diagnosis under the theme: “The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters,” she said.
“The campaign will seek to raise awareness of the benefits that a diagnosis can provide to those living with the condition, alongside carers and the wider society. As research advances, we will also highlight the emerging at-risk groups and pre-symptomatic individuals.”
A major misconception that ZARDA seeks to dispel is that dementia is an inevitable part of growing old.
Dementia is not a normal consequence of ageing, but is caused by physical diseases that damage brain cells and affect memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to perform everyday activities.
For families, getting a diagnosis can therefore be an important first step towards understanding what is happening and planning for the future.
A diagnosis can unlock a range of treatment, care and support options, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
However, access to diagnosis and post-diagnosis support remains inadequate in many parts of the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Zimbabwe faces additional challenges.
The country does not yet have a national dementia strategy, while access to specialised services is limited at public health institutions.
Cultural beliefs that attribute dementia to non-clinical causes can also contribute to stigma and delay people from seeking medical assistance.
The issue has increasingly found its way into Parliament, with Senators and legislators calling for a comprehensive national dementia strategy to address what has been described as a growing “silent epidemic” among older people.
National dementia plans are an important tool for governments seeking to develop coordinated responses to dementia, covering areas such as diagnosis, treatment, care, research, awareness, and support for caregivers.
Yet, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International research, only 50 of the world’s 195 countries have national dementia plans.
The scale of the challenge is reflected in Zimbabwe’s own projections.
Research by Alzheimer’s Disease International estimated that 27 377 people in Zimbabwe were living with dementia in 2018. Estimated projections predict this figure to rise by 198 percent by 2050.
The actual burden is, however, believed to be considerably higher, with the available figures potentially understating the prevalence of dementia because of limited diagnosis and reporting.
Zimbabwe has a population of about 17 million, with a relatively young median age of 18,1 years. Despite this youthful demographic profile, the ageing population means that dementia is becoming an increasingly important public health issue.
Globally, more than 55 million people are living with dementia, with someone developing the condition approximately every three seconds. The number is projected to reach 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050.
Dementia is also expected to become the third-leading cause of death globally by 2040, while its economic burden is estimated at US$1,3 trillion annually and is expected to more than double by 2030.
Beyond the statistics lies another, often overlooked, dimension of dementia — the burden carried by families and caregivers.
Globally, unpaid informal care provided to people living with dementia at home amounts to about 67 million full-time workers. Women bear a disproportionate share of this responsibility, accounting for around two-thirds of primary caregivers.
The burden is particularly pronounced in low- and middle-income countries, which are expected to account for 71 percent of the global prevalence of dementia by 2050.
Two-thirds of people living with dementia are also women.
In low- and middle-income countries, about 90 per cent of dementia care takes place in the home, making family support systems central to the well-being of people living with the condition.
ZARDA says effective dementia care must, therefore, go beyond medicines and clinical interventions.
Social support, dementia-friendly environments, social activities, reminiscence sessions, rehabilitation and respite care can help maximise independence and improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and their carers.
A diagnosis, while potentially difficult for individuals and families to receive, can also provide an opportunity to prepare and make informed decisions.
Evidence suggests that when people with dementia and their families are adequately prepared and supported, the initial feelings of shock, anger and grief can be accompanied by reassurance and empowerment.
The global campaign is consequently seeking to move the conversation away from fear and silence towards knowledge, early intervention and support.
The issue is particularly urgent as research into dementia continues to evolve, including work focused on risk factors and identifying people who may be at risk before clear symptoms emerge.
Another significant concern is stigma.
Research cited by Alzheimer’s Disease International indicates that 88 percent of people living with dementia report experiencing discrimination.
At the same time, more than 90 percent of carers and members of the general populace surveyed said they would be encouraged to seek a diagnosis if a disease-modifying treatment for dementia became available.
For Zimbabwe, these findings reinforce the need to build greater citizen understanding of dementia while strengthening the country’s capacity to diagnose and support those affected.
As World Alzheimer’s Month unfolds, ZARDA is calling on individuals, organisations and institutions to participate in awareness activities and help challenge the misconceptions that continue to isolate people living with dementia.
The campaign’s message is simple but consequential: knowing earlier creates more opportunities to act.
For Zimbabwe, where projected dementia cases could almost triple by 2050, that message could not be timelier.
