BAA: ‘Make dementia public health priority’

The Barbados Alzheimer’s Association is calling for a national dementia plan and greater implementation of the World Health Organisation’s global action plan on the disease, amid concerns that Barbados lacks definitive data on its prevalence.

Executive member Kaila Branch said more research was needed as the association observed World Alzheimer’s Month in September under the theme, The earlier you know, the more you can do.

Branch said while Barbados lacked definitive prevalence figures, the global impact of dementia was significant, with Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) estimating that more than 55 million people worldwide are living with the condition.