National policy actions on dementia in the Americas and Asia-Pacific: Consensus and challenges

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) affect over 50 million persons globally, and the number is expected to rise. In response, health ministries are developing and implementing policies and programs to systemically address the needs of individuals and families affected by ADRD. While national plans of action on ADRD are advancing among European Member States of World Health Organization (WHO), those in the Asia-Pacific and Americas are lagging behind. Since previous studies have largely ignored the Americas and Asia-Pacific—where approximately two-thirds of the global ADRD population resides—this study sought to identify (a) the socioeconomic factors associated with the likelihood of having a national dementia policy, and (b) to examine common and differing features among the national plans in these regions. Employing the dementia policy guidelines of WHO and the Pan American Health Organization as an extraction guide for data collection and analysis, the national dementia plans and available socioeconomic data of 10 Member States were analyzed with comparative and qualitative analyses. Findings suggested at least a 14-fold increase in the likelihood of having a national dementia plan if a Member State had one of the following: a universal health care system, more than 14% of the population 65 years of age or older, or high-income. All the Member States in the study identified dementia as a public health priority, but priorities differed. Inconsistencies included development of information systems, training for health care professionals, and long-term care systems.

Vietnam’s Responses to Dementia – An Assessment of Service Delivery

“…Vietnam may look to other countries in the region as an effective illustration of preventative programs. For example, a key feature of Indonesia’s national dementia action plan is the inclusion of a public awareness campaign and promotion of preventative lifestyle measures (Republic of Indonesia: Ministry of Health, 2015; Sun et al, 2020). Since the launch of the plan, Alzheimer’s Indonesia has produced extensive annual awareness campaigns with an estimated reach of up to 1 million people, and has also developed a range of online educational material (Alzheimer’s Indonesia, 2022).…”

National Dementia Plans of Group of Seven Countries and South Korea Based on International Recommendations

“…Among several previous comparison studies of NDPs, only 1 used WHO action areas as a framework, which focused on the factors associated with the existence of an NDP. 3 A systematic comparison of existing NDPs based on international recommendations would provide valuable guidance for the development of NDPs. Combining the WHO’s inclusive action areas and the OECD’s meticulous key objectives, our 11 targets could provide a practical blueprint.…”

Relatives experiences during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A qualitative study set in Spanish locked‐down nursing homes

“…Currently, approximately 32 million persons with dementia live in the Americas and the Asia‐Pacific, accounting for two‐thirds of the world's dementia population (Sun et al, 2020). Within the countries of the Asian region (South‐East Asia and the Western Pacific Region), only Japan, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, have national dementia plans (Sun et al, 2020). A universal healthcare system, >14% of the population 65 years of age or older, or high‐income were factors related to having a national dementia plan.…”

“…A universal healthcare system, >14% of the population 65 years of age or older, or high‐income were factors related to having a national dementia plan. Inconsistencies included development of information systems for providers of long‐term care (Indonesia, Japan), undergraduate and graduate education and training for healthcare professionals (Japan), and dementia as a public health priority (Republic of Korea) (Sun et al, 2020). In Europe, different dementia care strategies exist and vary according to the economic resources and the organization of health and social care in each country (Alzheimer Europe, 2018).…”