Dementia strategy in China
China, the most populous country in the world, is ageing rapidly. In 2006, 8% of the country's 1.3 billion people were aged 65 or above, and this percentage is expected to increase to 24% by 2050. Along with this rapid ageing of the population, the number of people suffering from dementia can also be expected to increase dramatically. It is estimated that there were 5 million people with dementia in China in 2001, with a three-fold increase anticipated by 2040 (Ferri et al., 2005).
Awareness of dementia is generally low in China, and many people regard the cognitive impairment in dementia as part of the normal ageing process. This low degree of dementia awareness amongst both the public and those in the primary care profession frequently leads to the very late presentation of these patients to medical services. In addition, the stigma associated with a diagnosis of dementia remains very strong in China. Thus, the patient and his or her family may be reluctant to seek treatment. Memory problems are not usually very distressing to relatives, but neuropsychiatric symptoms that disrupt harmony are a major source of stress to the family, and these symptoms may lead to the presentation of the patient to medical services.
Assessment of and medical services for people with dementia are usually provided by specialists, including neurologists and psychiatrists. However, the practice of the multidisciplinary team is not well developed in China, and there is little collaboration between specialties in the care of people with dementia. Traditionally, care of the elderly is the responsibility of the family, and the majority of those with dementia are looked