Overview

• Global campaigns for World Alzheimer’s Day emphasize timely diagnosis, stigma reduction and caregiver support as the WHO estimates more than 55 million people live with dementia.
• India’s dementia burden is projected to nearly double by 2036 from about 8.8 million to roughly 16.9 million among people 60+, yet the country has only around 100 memory clinics and an AIIMS study reports about 75% of caregivers face significant stress.
• Abu Dhabi clinicians report women are disproportionately affected and often diagnosed later, and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is piloting female-focused MCI detection tools (FEMCI and FAMCI) to close sex-specific gaps.
• Researchers highlight evidence from large randomized trials (POINTER and FINGER) showing that coordinated lifestyle programs improve cognition, with experts estimating roughly 40–45% of dementia risk is linked to modifiable factors.
• Doctors note that amyloid-targeting monoclonal antibodies available in specialist centers can slow decline by about 20% in selected early cases but require careful testing and monitoring due to safety risks.