Dementia: Addressing the Stigma of America's Most Feared Diagnosis
June 22, 1:30 pm PDT / 4:30 pm EDT
Adults in the US fear Alzheimer's disease more than cancer, stroke, and heart disease combined. Today, more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's and related dementias, and that number is projected to skyrocket in coming years. Stigma associated with Alzheimer's disease often prevents people from seeking a cognitive assessment when symptoms arise. Similarly, stigma raises barriers that block physicians and patients from communicating openly about memory. This panel will discuss the results of an AARP national survey of consumers and health-care providers examining the stigma surrounding dementia. The discussion will highlight why early detection of dementia can help alleviate fear, discuss ways to reduce risk, and chart a way forward to increase diagnosis and improve care.
Moderator
Nora Super
Senior Director, Center for the Future of Aging, Milken Institute; Executive Director, Milken Institute Alliance to Improve Dementia Care
Speakers
Malaz Boustani
Chief Innovation and Implementation Officer, Indiana University Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science
Karin Hellsvik
Head, External Communications and Patient Advocacy, Alzheimer's, Biogen
Sarah Lock
Senior Vice President, Policy and Brain Health, AARP; Executive Director, Global Council on Brain Health
Lauren Miller Rogen
Screenwriter, Director, Producer, and Philanthropist; Co-Founder, HFC
Materials
Building Workforce Capacity to Improve Detection and Diagnosis of Dementia
Agile Implementation by Malaz Boustani
2021 AARP Survey on the Perceptions Related to a Dementia Diagnosis: Adults age 40-plus