Global Challenges in Dementia Diagnosis: A Deep Dive into ADI’s World Alzheimer’s Report 2021

Alzheimer’s Disease International’s World Alzheimer’s Report 2021 recently found that 75% of people with dementia are undiagnosed, equating to 41 million people across the globe. The report, subtitled “Journey through the diagnosis of dementia,” also found clinician stigma is still a major barrier to diagnosis, and one in three believe nothing can be done about dementia. Dr. Serge Gauthier, co-author of the report, joins the podcast to discuss these findings, recommendations for improving dementia diagnoses, and more from the report.

Episode Topics

2:00 - How did you get into this field, and why did you choose to study dementia? 

3:04 - What was the methodology behind this research? What was that process like to collect this data?

5:47 - What are some of the key findings that you took away from the report?

7:59 - What did you discover about stigma while conducting this report? Why is that important to this discussion about diagnosis and subsequent care?

9:47 - How can people encourage their healthcare systems to have better diagnoses practices in place?

12:04 - What role do PET scans and blood-based biomarkers play in this effort for more diagnoses? Should everyone get these tests done?

13:56 - How do you think new therapies like Aducanumab are going to change how we view diagnosis?

16:33 - What are some of the key recommendations for government agencies from the report?

18:33 - Most agencies in the United States do not recommend screening for cognitive impairment without symptoms. Is that a mistake, and if so, how do we change those policies?

19:31 - What role do specialists, memory centers, and community agencies play in improving diagnosis? Should we have a primary care focus or should we train more specialists and organizations to help with diagnosis?

21:59 - Do you think there needs to be a change in how we use terms like dementia and major neurocognitive disorder? Should we adopt a universal terminology surrounding cognitive impairment, and do you think dementia should be retired due to the stigma it carries?

22:57 - What are some of the easiest things we can do to help our system diagnose people with dementia?

24:42 - What gives you hope that things will get better in the diagnosis and care of people with dementia?

Show Notes

The World Alzheimer Report 2021 includes over 50 essays from leading experts from around the world and is supported by findings from 3 key global surveys, which received responses from 1,111 clinicians, 2,325 people with dementia and carers, and over 100 national Alzheimer and dementia associations. Find more information about the 2021 World Alzheimer’s Report from Alzheimer’s Disease International on their website. A PDF of the report, “Journey through the diagnosis of dementia,” is also available on their website to read.

To learn more about Dr. Serge Gauthier, read his bio on the McGill University website.