Stakeholders seek early diagnosis, better care for Alzheimer’s patients

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s health and humanitarian sectors on Monday renewed calls for early diagnosis and improved care for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, as the country marked World Alzheimer’s Day 2026 with an awareness walk and conference in Abuja.

The event, organised by the National Association of Seadogs (Sahara Deck) in partnership with Caring Lot International Initiative (CLII), was held under the theme, “Know Early, Care Better: Changing the Story of Alzheimer’s in Nigeria.”

The stakeholders said early detection was critical to effective management of Alzheimer’s disease, noting that delayed diagnosis could increase the physical, emotional and financial burden on affected persons, families and caregivers.

Chairman, CLII, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, said early diagnosis should be regarded as the starting point for better care and support for people living with dementia.

“Early diagnosis is not just a medical milestone; it is the beginning of better care. When families recognise memory loss, confusion or changes in behaviour early and seek evaluation, we can slow progression, manage symptoms and reduce the burden on caregivers,” he said.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer, CLII, Engr. Lawumi Ismail, said stigma and inadequate information were forcing many Nigerian families to cope with dementia without sufficient support.

“Too many Nigerian families are carrying this burden alone, often because of stigma and lack of information,” Ismail said.

He added that the partnership with Sahara Deck was aimed at increasing access to knowledge, support and dignified care for people affected by dementia.

Speaking on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, a representative of the ministry said dementia must be addressed as part of the broader non-communicable disease response and integrated into the primary healthcare agenda.

The ministry said the response to dementia should cover prevention, early identification, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, long-term care, caregiver support, research, data generation and protection of the rights and dignity of older persons.

It further called for the capacity of primary healthcare workers to be strengthened to recognise cognitive decline, conduct appropriate initial assessments, identify red flags and refer patients requiring specialist evaluation.

The ministry cautioned Nigerians against dismissing persistent memory loss, confusion, difficulty performing familiar tasks, changes in language, impaired judgement and changes in mood or behaviour as normal ageing.

It said early recognition could also help healthcare workers identify potentially reversible or treatable causes of cognitive decline, including medication effects, depression, nutritional deficiencies, infections, thyroid disorders and sleep problems.

The ministry also identified hypertension, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, hearing loss, social isolation, depression and low educational attainment among factors associated with dementia risk.

It urged families to seek medical consultation when concerns about memory or behaviour arise rather than waiting until the affected person develops severe disorientation or experiences a crisis.

Also speaking, Second Mate and Chief Programs Officer, Sahara Deck, Aloy Atsenokhai, called for greater public understanding of dementia and stronger support for caregivers.

“Alzheimer’s is not a curse, nor is it a normal part of ageing that should be ignored,” he said.

“Through this walk and conference, we are saying to Nigerians: know the signs early, care better, and stand with caregivers.”

The organisers said the event was aimed at raising public awareness, reducing stigma and promoting timely intervention for people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

They urged Nigerians to pay attention to early warning signs, seek timely medical evaluation and support caregivers with adequate information, resources and care.

They also called for stronger support systems, improved caregiver training and greater public understanding of dementia in Nigeria.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for an estimated 60 to 70 per cent of cases globally, according to information contained in the Federal Ministry of Health’s address.

The ministry noted that dementia should not be regarded as an inevitable or normal part of ageing, stressing that much of the response required early recognition, management of risk factors and community support.

World Alzheimer’s Day is observed annually on September 21 to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.