Regional health priorities for dementia: a roadmap for the Western Pacific

Hannah C Timmins; Vincent C T Mok; Seung Hyun Kim; Nortina Shahrizaila; Jia-Ying Sung; Gen Sobue; Sheila Agustini; Stephanie Ward; Kaarin J Anstey; Dayna-Lee Talbot; Srestha Mazumder; Sicong Tu; Rachel H Tan; Cindy Shin-Yi Lin; Claire O'Callaghan; Johannes C Michaelian; Yun-Hee Jeon; David Foxe; Sharon L Naismith; Olivier Piguet; Rebekah Ahmed; Emma Devenney; Susanna B Park; Matthew C Kiernan

doi:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101179

Regional health priorities for dementia: a roadmap for the Western Pacific

Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2024 Sep 16:50:101179. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2024.101179. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Authors

Hannah C Timmins¹, Vincent C T Mok², Seung Hyun Kim³, Nortina Shahrizaila⁴, Jia-Ying Sung⁵, Gen Sobue⁶, Sheila Agustini⁷, Stephanie Ward^{8

9}, Kaarin J Anstey^{1

10}, Dayna-Lee Talbot¹, Srestha Mazumder¹, Sicong Tu^{1

11}, Rachel H Tan^{11

12}, Cindy Shin-Yi Lin^{11

13}, Claire O'Callaghan^{11

12}, Johannes C Michaelian^{11

14}, Yun-Hee Jeon¹⁵, David Foxe^{11

16}, Sharon L Naismith^{11

14}, Olivier Piguet^{11

16}, Rebekah Ahmed^{11

17}, Emma Devenney^{1

12

18}, Susanna B Park^{11

12}, Matthew C Kiernan^{1

19

20}

Affiliations

¹ Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia.
² Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, Lau Tat Chuen Research Centre of Brain Degenerative Diseases in Chinese, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
³ Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea.
⁴ Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia.
⁵ Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
⁶ Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan.
⁷ Mayapada Hospital, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia.
⁸ Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁹ Department of Geriatric Medicine, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁰ UNSW Ageing Futures Institute, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
¹¹ Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹² School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia.
¹³ Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁴ Charles Perkins Centre, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹⁵ Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁶ School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁷ Memory and Cognition Clinic, Department of Neuroscience, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁸ Western Sydney Local Health District, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁹ University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
²⁰ Department of Neurology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, Australia.

Abstract

In the Western Pacific Region, the prevalence of dementia is expected to increase, however, the diversity of the region is expected to present unique challenges. The region has varying levels of preparedness, with a limited number of countries having a specific national dementia plan and awareness campaigns. Diversity of risk and healthcare services within the region is exerting impact on diagnosis, treatment, care, and support, with most countries being under resourced. Similarly, the ability to monitor dementia-related indicators and progress research, particularly relating to treatment and clinical trial access needs to be addressed. Countries require comprehensive national plans that lay out how resources will be allocated to improve dementia literacy, train, and support carers, mobilise resources to reduce risk factors and improve research capabilities. These plans need to be informed by consumers and tailored to the region to develop an inclusive society for people living with dementia and their families.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Dementia; Health policy; Western pacific region.

Publication types

Review