India needs a national strategy on ageing and mental health to address the rising cases of Alzheimer’s disease in the country, according to health experts.
In an editorial published in the Indian Journal of Public Health, experts from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, along with M.M. Medical College and Hospital, Himachal Pradesh, highlighted the need to implement a comprehensive National Dementia Plan aligned with the World Health Organization’s global framework.
“India needs to view Alzheimer’s not just as a clinical issue but as part of a comprehensive national strategy on ageing and mental health. Integrating cognitive health screening in primary care, investing in long-term care models, building caregiver support systems, and strengthening research on risk factors are key steps forward,” said Dr. K. Madan Gopal, one of the authors, in a post on professional networking platform LinkedIn.
“The call is clear: we must act early, invest smartly, and plan humanely. Alzheimer’s care must become part of our larger health systems strengthening and social protection agenda – ensuring dignity, inclusion, and support for every ageing Indian,” he added.
According to estimates, 5.3 million Indians are currently living with dementia, a figure projected to almost triple by 2050, mainly due to an ageing population.
The experts emphasized the need to integrate Alzheimer’s care with the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
“Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (expanded Health and Wellness Centres) present a unique opportunity to integrate screening, counseling, and referral for dementia at the community level, making care more accessible and acceptable,” the editorial said.
The experts also highlighted the potential of memory clinics and telemedicine platforms such as eSanjeevani to tackle Alzheimer’s.
In addition, they stressed the need to boost investment for people affected by the disease and to learn from the successes of large-scale public health interventions, ranging from HPV vaccination pilots to mission-mode nutrition campaigns and the nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive.
The editorial called for a national dementia strategy that “combines mass awareness campaigns with active community participation to reduce stigma and promote early help-seeking; standardised guidelines for screening, diagnosis, and care at every level of the health system to ensure uniform quality; and public–private partnerships to expand the reach of memory clinics, develop affordable assistive technologies, and train caregivers.”
“Together, such an approach can accelerate the creation of a comprehensive and inclusive framework for dementia care in India,” the experts added.
— IANS
