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GLOBALLY, the number of people living with dementia is projected to increase from 57.4 million in 2019 to more than 150 million by 2050. Malaysia is not exempt from this demographic reality.

The National Health and Morbidity Survey reported that 8.5 per cent of older Malaysians were living with dementia in 2018.

Estimates by the Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia suggest that between 204,000 and 264,000 Malaysians were affected in 2020, and these numbers are expected to rise substantially over the coming decades.

Countries facing rapidly ageing populations have recognised that dementia care cannot depend solely on healthcare professionals.

Japan's Dementia Supporters programme and school-based initiatives in the United Kingdom demonstrate that dementia-friendly societies are built not only through healthcare systems, but also through classrooms, neighbourhoods and everyday human interactions.

However, much of the attention has focused on patients, caregivers, healthcare workers and university students. One important group has largely been overlooked: school-going adolescents.

Teenagers may be among the most important groups to engage. If they learn early that dementia is a medical condition requiring understanding and support, they may help create a more compassionate society.

Our study explored dementia literacy among 916 adolescents from 18 secondary schools. The findings were both encouraging and concerning.

On the positive side, more than 70 per cent of respondents had heard about dementia, while 86 per cent correctly recognised that dementia affects the brain. Many students also understood that healthy lifestyle choices may help reduce dementia risk and acknowledged that there are different types of dementia.

However, important misconceptions remained. Nearly 60 per cent of participants believed that dementia is a normal part of ageing.

When dementia symptoms are viewed as an inevitable consequence of getting older, families may delay seeking professional help. Opportunities for early diagnosis, planning and support may therefore be missed.

Another worrying finding was that 61 per cent of respondents believed dementia could be transmitted from one person to another. Scientifically, this is incorrect.

However, this misconception matters greatly. Fear of contagion can lead to avoidance. Avoidance can fuel isolation. Over time, isolation may reinforce stigma against individuals living with dementia and their families.

The study also found that many adolescents expressed discomfort or fear about interacting with someone who has dementia. While this may appear troubling, it does not necessarily indicate a lack of compassion.

As Malaysia moves towards becoming an ageing nation, dementia literacy will become increasingly important. Dementia education could be incorporated into existing school subjects such as Health Education and Moral Education.

The objective is to raise a generation that recognises dementia early, responds with empathy and supports affected families without judgement. Malaysia's future caregivers are already sitting in classrooms. To build a dementia-friendly nation tomorrow, we must begin educating our young people today.

Dr Ernest Mangantig,

Senior Lecturer,

Department of Community Health,

Pusat Kanser Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Universiti Sains Malaysia

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: [email protected]