Stigma, late diagnosis keeping millions untreated as India’s elderly population grows
Suhail Rather
Srinagar, Sept 21 (KNS): “Dementia is not a part of growing old. It is a disease and ignoring it is costing lives.” With this blunt warning, Dr Abdul Majid, Professor and Head at the Advanced Centre for Mental Health & Addiction Medicine, SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, flagged what experts are calling one of India’s most under-recognised health challenges.
Speaking at a mental health awareness programme, Dr Majid urged families to stop mistaking dementia for ‘normal ageing’. “Confusing the two delays treatment. Early recognition can make all the difference,” he said.
Dementia, caused by damage to brain cells, erodes memory, judgment, and communication, often altering behaviour in ways that families struggle to understand.
In India, where life expectancy is rising sharply, the numbers are swelling: the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI) estimates over 5 million people live with dementia today, a figure expected to triple by 2050.
Yet stigma, experts say, is the real epidemic.
“Families rarely speak of it.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelPatients are hidden, untreated, left dependent,” said Dr Majid. He added that, although there is no complete cure, timely medical intervention, counselling, and caregiver support can significantly improve the quality of life.
Participants in the programme, including health professionals and community members, demanded stronger public health action, specialised dementia clinics at district hospitals, training for doctors and paramedics, and caregiver counselling units. “District-level infrastructure is missing. Awareness has to reach homes, not just conferences,” one participant said.
Health experts also pointed to the role of schools, colleges, and community groups in dismantling stigma. “Public workshops and campaigns can normalise conversations around mental health. We cannot afford silence,” they said.
The programme ended with a message that dementia is not an unavoidable part of ageing but a disease that needs timely attention. “With the right knowledge, diagnosis and compassionate care, patients can live better, fuller lives,” Dr Majid said.(KNS)