Public Health Interventions to Reduce Stigma Associated with Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is considered as one of the most common forms of dementia, which contributes to almost two-thirds of the reported cases. People living with Alzheimer’s disease lead a difficult life, especially because of the inability to perform activities of daily living. The purpose of the current article is to ascertain the presence of stigma in Alzheimer’s disease, enumerate the consequences of the same, and propose relevant public health interventions to overcome the stigma associated with Alzheimer’s disease. However, they are also subjected to a wide range of stigma that complicates their living. Owing to the presence of multiple forms of stigma in different domains, there has been a significant delay in seeking medical help, resulting in delayed diagnosis, which also makes the therapeutic interventions less effective. Acknowledging the magnitude, the global distribution, the stigma attributed to the condition, and the associated consequences, there is an immense need to address the identified stigma and bring about an improvement in the quality of life of patients and their caregivers. In conclusion, the presence of stigma significantly increases the extent of challenges faced by patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. This calls for the need to implement comprehensive interventions to improve public awareness, promote early detection, and improve the quality of life of the affected person and their caregivers through the support of the community and the health sector.