Belarus

Belarus has a publicly funded healthcare framework, which covers diagnostic consultations and hospital care, though approved medications often require out-of-pocket payment. Operating without a dedicated national dementia strategy, the country addresses neurocognitive disorders broadly under its “Active Longevity – 2030” plan, integrating care into existing neurology and psychiatry departments rather than a standalone network of memory clinics. Municipal Territorial Centres of Social Services coordinate community support and respite care, while state financial aid is tied to general disability and age limits rather than a specific dementia diagnosis.

Overall
AD Rating
Diagnostic Pathway
Belarus relies on general Ministry of Health clinical protocols for primary cognitive screening and structural imaging (CT/MRI), but the pathway lacks integration with advanced biomarker diagnostics and dedicated memory clinic infrastructure.
Specialized Care
The universal public healthcare system covers general specialist consultations and hospital care, but standard anti-dementia medications are excluded from the statutory free-medicine list, forcing families to pay out-of-pocket.
Caregiver Support
Informal caregivers can access state financial allowances, pension credits, and municipal respite care, though these statutory provisions are tied to general severe disability or advanced age rather than a specific dementia diagnosis.
National Policies
Belarus operates without a dedicated national dementia strategy, addressing cognitive decline only broadly within aging policies while maintaining restrictive legal frameworks that can strip individuals of their civil rights.
Access to ATT-s
No therapies approved.
Organizations are listed for informational purposes based on publicly available sources. Inclusion does not necessarily indicate affiliation with or endorsement by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI).

Highlights

Health system
Universal, Government-Funded (Public Provision)
ADI member association(s)
National dementia plan
Dementia plan funding
No plan
Dementia prevalence rate
1186
Dementia incidence rate
205
*per 100k Population
Prevalence Rate (per 100,000): 
This measures the total number of existing cases (both old and new) in a population at a specific point in time, divided by the total population and multiplied by 100,000. It tells you the overall "burden" or how widespread a condition is at that moment.
Incidence Rate (per 100,000): 
This measures the number of new cases that develop in a population over a specific period (usually one year), divided by the population at risk and multiplied by 100,000. This tells you the "speed" or risk of contracting the condition.

Population

8,931,482

Median age

41.8

Health expenditure (% of GDP)

6.70

Diagnosis

Alzheimer’s assessment in Belarus follows Ministry of Health protocols, progressing from primary care to specialist neurological or psychiatric evaluation. Diagnosis combines clinical and functional assessment, cognitive testing, laboratory investigations, and selective CT or MRI. The public healthcare system generally covers consultations and medically necessary investigations without routine copayments. National data on overall diagnostic waiting times are unavailable, although planned state CT and MRI examinations have regulated maximum waits. Belarus has PET/CT capacity, but dedicated amyloid or tau tracers are not listed. Genetic testing can be obtained commercially but is not part of routine Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Routine clinical availability of Alzheimer’s-specific CSF biomarkers and validated blood biomarkers, including phosphorylated tau and amyloid assays, is not documented.

Diagnosis pathway

Belarus has a nationally guided Alzheimer’s diagnostic pathway, with initial primary-care assessment followed by psychiatric or neurological referral when dementia is suspected. Evaluation combines cognitive and functional assessment, laboratory investigations, and CT or MRI where clinically indicated. CSF biomarkers and amyloid PET are not included in routine national diagnostic protocols.

In Belarus, the diagnosis pathway for Alzheimer’s disease is guided by national Ministry of Health clinical protocols. Assessment can begin with a general practitioner or district therapist, who reviews symptoms, medical history and functional decline and may conduct cognitive screening using tools such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clock Drawing Test. Patients with suspected dementia may then be referred to a psychiatrist and/or neurologist for specialist assessment and differential diagnosis.

Specialist evaluation may include further cognitive assessment, laboratory tests to exclude potentially reversible causes of cognitive impairment, and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify vascular or structural abnormalities. Neuroimaging requirements vary between protocols: neurological guidance includes CT/MRI in the diagnostic work-up, while primary-care and psychiatric protocols do not require imaging in every case. Advanced Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers or amyloid positron emission tomography (PET), are not specified as part of the routine national diagnostic pathway.

Wait times

There is no published national waiting-time target or reliable national average for the overall diagnostic pathway. However, since 1 July 2026, patients referred for planned non-contrast CT or MRI in Belarusian state healthcare institutions should wait no more than 30 calendar days, per new regulation.

Diagnosis cost

Mostly or fully covered

Belarus primarily funds Alzheimer’s diagnosis through its public healthcare system, covering GP and specialist consultations and medically necessary diagnostic investigations without routine copayments.

Cognitive tests

Available

In Belarus, cognitive assessment for suspected Alzheimer’s disease relies mainly on established neuropsychological screening scales. A Belarusian Ministry of Health diagnostic instruction for cognitive impairment includes the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) as initial assessments, with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) included in more detailed neuropsychological assessment.

Imaging tests

Used in specific cases

CT and MRI are available in Belarus and form part of the country’s recommended investigation of cognitive impairment.14 From 1 July 2026, the Ministry of Health introduced a maximum waiting period of 30 working days for planned non-contrast CT and MRI in state healthcare organisations, while urgent examinations are performed without waiting in the routine queue.

Belarus has PET/CT capacity at the Republican PET Centre of the N.N. Alexandrov National Cancer Centre near Minsk. The centre states that PET/CT can be used for neurological as well as oncological and cardiac conditions. However, its currently listed radiopharmaceuticals are 18F-FDG, 18F-fluorocholine, 18F-PSMA and 11C-methionine; Alzheimer’s disease-specific amyloid or tau PET tracers are not listed.

Genetic tests

Genetic testing related to Alzheimer’s disease is available commercially in Belarus, but it is not used for routine diagnosis. There is no evidence that diagnostic testing for rare pathogenic variants associated with autosomal-dominant Alzheimer’s disease is routinely offered within Belarus specifically for Alzheimer’s disease.

Biomarker tests

Rarely used

There is no Belarusian clinical service publicly documenting routine measurement of the core Alzheimer’s disease CSF biomarkers amyloid-β42 (or Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio), total tau and phosphorylated tau. There is neither the evidence that Alzheimer’s disease-specific plasma tests such as p-tau217, p-tau181, Aβ42/Aβ40 or other validated amyloid/tau blood assays are routinely offered clinically in Belarus.

Cognitive Tests

Available

In Belarus, cognitive assessment for suspected Alzheimer’s disease relies mainly on established neuropsychological screening scales. A Belarusian Ministry of Health diagnostic instruction for cognitive impairment includes the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) as initial assessments, with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) included in more detailed neuropsychological assessment.

Imaging Tests

Used in specific cases

CT and MRI are available in Belarus and form part of the country’s recommended investigation of cognitive impairment.14 From 1 July 2026, the Ministry of Health introduced a maximum waiting period of 30 working days for planned non-contrast CT and MRI in state healthcare organisations, while urgent examinations are performed without waiting in the routine queue.

Belarus has PET/CT capacity at the Republican PET Centre of the N.N. Alexandrov National Cancer Centre near Minsk. The centre states that PET/CT can be used for neurological as well as oncological and cardiac conditions. However, its currently listed radiopharmaceuticals are 18F-FDG, 18F-fluorocholine, 18F-PSMA and 11C-methionine; Alzheimer’s disease-specific amyloid or tau PET tracers are not listed.

Genetic Tests

Genetic testing related to Alzheimer’s disease is available commercially in Belarus, but it is not used for routine diagnosis. There is no evidence that diagnostic testing for rare pathogenic variants associated with autosomal-dominant Alzheimer’s disease is routinely offered within Belarus specifically for Alzheimer’s disease.

Biomarker Tests

Rarely used

There is no Belarusian clinical service publicly documenting routine measurement of the core Alzheimer’s disease CSF biomarkers amyloid-β42 (or Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio), total tau and phosphorylated tau. There is neither the evidence that Alzheimer’s disease-specific plasma tests such as p-tau217, p-tau181, Aβ42/Aβ40 or other validated amyloid/tau blood assays are routinely offered clinically in Belarus.

Treatment & Care

Belarus integrates dementia care into neurology, psychiatry, and geriatric services rather than a dedicated memory-clinic network, with specialist provision concentrated in major centres. Territorial social-service centres provide home assistance, day support, caregiver services, and some dementia supervision, while temporary residential care can offer respite. Palliative services are available but lack a dementia-specific pathway. State healthcare is predominantly publicly funded, although outpatient Alzheimer’s medicines may require out-of-pocket payment. Caregivers may qualify for general financial allowances and pension credits when recipients meet age, disability, and dependency criteria. These supports are not Alzheimer’s-specific, with eligibility based on assessed care needs rather than diagnosis alone.

Specialized facilities and services

Long-term care provision is also inadequate, with nearly half of municipalities lacking community services. The country has 23 residential facilities and 36 day centres, but dementia care is available in only around one-third of facilities that report needing it. Palliative care is legally established and includes home, inpatient and day services, but remains largely oriented towards cancer and other terminal illnesses, with no dedicated dementia-specific network documented.

Belarus does not have a nationwide network of dedicated memory clinics or specialised Alzheimer’s centres. Dementia diagnosis and treatment are largely incorporated into the existing neurology, psychiatry and geriatric healthcare system, rather than organised as a separate dementia pathway. Specialist expertise and advanced diagnostic facilities are therefore more accessible in Minsk and major regional centres, while people in smaller towns and rural areas depend more heavily on local polyclinics and referral to higher-level services. Available international evidence also suggests that Belarus has not developed the same type of dedicated multidisciplinary memory-clinic infrastructure found in many Western European systems.

Belarus has a geographically extensive system of Territorial Centres of Social Services (TCSONs) that provide services for older people and people living with disabilities, including home assistance, caregiver services and forms of day support. Importantly, some centres explicitly provide day supervision for people living with dementia: for example, the state TCSON in Staryya Darohi offers 10–40 hours per week for people who have lost the ability to control their behaviour, specifically including people living with dementia. Similar territorial centres operate outside Minsk—for example in Orsha—so general social and home-care infrastructure is not confined to the capital. However, these are social-care services rather than dedicated Alzheimer’s disease day centres, and the availability and intensity of dementia-specific support varies locally.

Belarus has palliative care within its healthcare system, including hospital, hospice and community/home-based provision, but there is little evidence of a specialised palliative-care pathway specifically for Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Earlier the World Health Organization (WHO) health-system evidence describes palliative services delivered through polyclinics and home visits, alongside inpatient/hospice provision, although historically much of the specialist service was oriented toward cancer and pain management.

Approved medication

Generic Name Trade Name Used for
Donepezil Aricept, Aricept ODT, Adlarity, Eranz, Memac, Alzepil, Davia, Donecept, Donep, Donepex, Donesyn, Dopezil, Yasnal, Memorit, Pezale, Redumas, Zolpezil, Namzaric* Donepezil is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderately severe Alzheimer’s dementia.
Memantine Namenda, Namenda XR, Ebixa, Memary, Axura, Akatinol, Maruxa, Nemdatine, Namzaric* Treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s disease.

*Namzaric = combination of Donepezil and Memantine

Treatment cost

Treatment delivered through Belarus’s state healthcare institutions is predominantly publicly funded, but this does not extend universally to outpatient medicines. The current statutory free-medicine list under Resolution No. 823 of 31 December 2025 does not include Alzheimer’s disease (G30). Although medicines such as donepezil and memantine are available by prescription, their cost may fall on patients and families unless they qualify for free or subsidised medicines under a separate social-benefit entitlement.

State healthcare services are predominantly publicly financed, so treatment delivered in state healthcare institutions is generally funded from public budgets. However, outpatient medicines are not universally free. Belarus has a specific statutory list of diseases whose patients are entitled to free outpatient medicines from the Essential Medicines List. Under the current rules (Council of Ministers Resolution No. 823 of 31 December 2025), Alzheimer’s disease (G30) does not appear on that disease-based free-medicine list. Dementia medicines such as donepezil and memantine are available by prescription in Belarus, but unless the patient independently belongs to a category entitled to free or subsidised medicines (for example, through another statutory social-benefit entitlement), the medicine cost can fall on the patient and their family as an out-of-pocket expense.

Caregiver support

Caregiver support in Belarus is available through broader social-protection and social-care systems rather than Alzheimer’s-specific programmes. People caring for someone with Group I disability or an individual aged 80 or over who requires permanent care may qualify for a monthly state care allowance of BYN 530.37 for one person or BYN 636.44 for two or more eligible people during August–October 2026. Qualifying periods of caregiving may also be recognised towards pension entitlement.

Territorial Centres for Social Services provide needs-based home care and other social services, while temporary residential placements can provide respite for families. Official guidance allows short-term stays of up to one month, no more than three times per year, subject to the relevant eligibility and medical criteria.

Belarus has general state financial support that can apply to carers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease, although it is not specific to Alzheimer’s disease. A carer may receive a state care allowance for looking after a person with Group I disability or a person aged 80 or older who requires permanent care. As of August–October 2026, the allowance is BYN 530.37 per month (100% of the subsistence minimum) for caring for one person, or BYN 636.44 (120%) when caring for two or more eligible people. Thus, a caregiver of a person living with Alzheimer’s disease could potentially qualify if the person meets the age/disability and care-need criteria; diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease alone does not create eligibility.

There is an additional longer-term financial protection for some caregivers: periods spent caring for a person with Group I disability or an older person aged 80+ can be credited when determining pension entitlement, subject to the statutory conditions. The Vitebsk Regional Committee for Labour, Employment and Social Protection, an official government body, confirms this provision. Thus, even where the support is not Alzheimer’s disease-specific, caregiving can have recognition within the state pension system.

Belarus also has a state social-care system delivered through Territorial Centres for Social Services (ТЦСОН). Official regional government guidance states that these centres provide home-based social services and assess the individual’s living circumstances and care needs before arranging services. Access can depend on age, disability, medical indications and the person’s need for continuous assistance rather than on an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis alone.

Belarus provides temporary residential care that can function as respite care. Official government guidance states that social residential institutions can provide temporary accommodation, including short-term stays of up to one month, no more than three times per calendar year. This could allow a family care partner of a person living with Alzheimer’s disease to have periods in which formal services assume responsibility for care, provided the person satisfies the relevant admission and medical criteria.

Policy

Belarus lacks a dedicated dementia strategy or announced future plan, although Active Longevity 2030 includes social-care models for older people with cognitive impairment. Courts may impose guardianship where individuals lack legal capacity, potentially affecting advanced dementia patients and resulting in loss of voting rights. These restrictions have drawn international criticism. Evidence also suggests stigma surrounding psychiatry, which may influence dementia care, although Alzheimer’s-specific stigma has not been directly established.

National dementia plan

Belarus does not have a dedicated national Alzheimer’s disease or dementia strategy. However, Belarus has a plan on ageing titled the “Active Longevity – 2030” National Strategy, which broadly focuses on adapting state institutions to support an aging population while specifically including plans to introduce social care models for elderly citizens with cognitive impairments.

Upcoming plans

No dedicated dementia strategy is publicly announced as forthcoming.

Policy gaps

Legal barriers

Belarusian courts may declare people with severe cognitive impairment legally incapable and place them under guardianship, potentially affecting individuals with advanced dementia. Those declared incapable also lose voting and referendum rights. International observers have criticised this approach for restricting political participation based on legal status rather than individually assessed voting capacity.

Belarusian law creates a particularly important link between cognitive/mental impairment, legal incapacity and loss of citizenship rights. Article 29 of the Civil Code provides that a person who, because of a mental disorder or illness, cannot understand or control their actions may be declared legally incapable by a court and placed under guardianship; the guardian then exercises important legal functions on their behalf. This can potentially apply to a person with advanced dementia, although an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis itself does not automatically establish legal incapacity.

The consequences extend to political participation: Article 64 of the Belarusian Constitution and Article 4 of the Electoral Code exclude people declared legally incapable by a court from elections and referendums. International election observers have criticised this type of restriction because it removes voting rights on the basis of legal incapacity associated with mental disability rather than assessing the individual’s ability to participate.

Cultural barriers

Belarusian evidence suggests stigma and discrimination associated with psychiatry, which may provide relevant context for people with dementia requiring psychiatric or neuropsychiatric care. However, these findings do not constitute direct evidence of Alzheimer’s-specific stigma.

There is some evidence that psychiatric stigma exists within Belarus: a Belarusian component of an international study comparing 200 psychiatrists with 200 general practitioners found that psychiatrists reported significantly greater perceived stigma and experiences of discrimination associated with psychiatry. This does not demonstrate that Belarusians stigmatise dementia specifically, so it should not be cited as direct evidence of Alzheimer’s disease stigma. Nevertheless, it provides a relevant background because dementia and severe cognitive impairment can intersect with psychiatric/neuropsychiatric services in Belarus.

Research

Belarus regulates clinical trials through the Ministry of Health and its specialised regulatory centre, while international databases provide information on active studies. Large multinational pharmaceutical trials have declined substantially. Domestic dementia research explores blood amyloid and phosphorylated tau biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment monitoring. The KIPRIDA study examines cognitive and MRI predictors of memantine response in mild Alzheimer’s disease, while genetic and epigenetic research into memory-related polymorphisms may contribute to future understanding of cognitive decline and dementia susceptibility.

Clinical trials and registries

The Ministry of Health and its subordinate enterprise, the Center for Examinations and Tests in Health Service, are responsible for evaluating, authorising, and overseeing all clinical trials and medicines in the country. Belarus does not maintain a dedicated, public-facing online registry to help patients find active clinical trials. Furthermore, due to the current geopolitical climate, the number of large-scale, international multi-center pharmaceutical trials operating in the country has decreased significantly. To search for any active or planned studies, researchers and patients must rely on global databases like ClinicalTrials.gov.

Selected innovative methods

Belarusian dementia research combines biomarker development, personalised treatment prediction, and genetic investigation. Researchers are evaluating blood amyloid-β40, amyloid-β42, and phosphorylated tau for diagnosis and treatment monitoring, including comparisons with CSF. The KIPRIDA study examines whether neuropsychological and MRI characteristics predict memantine response in mild Alzheimer’s disease. Genetic and epigenetic studies of memory-related polymorphisms provide additional evidence that may support future research into cognitive decline and dementia susceptibility.

A team at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health in Minsk has been investigating a blood-based approach measuring amyloid-β40, amyloid-β42 and phosphorylated tau. Their goal is to use these relatively minimally invasive biomarkers both to support dementia diagnosis and to follow biological changes during Alzheimer’s treatment. The researchers report comparing blood and CSF measurements and establishing blood reference values.

A 2026 study by the Belarusian State Medical University examined whether clinical tests and MRI measurements could predict which person living with mild Alzheimer’s disease would respond better to memantine, an established symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease drug. The KIPRIDA observational study looked for relationships between neuropsychological performance, neuroimaging characteristics and treatment response.

Researchers from the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health published a 2026 study examining genetic and epigenetic factors associated with short- and long-term memory in the Belarusian population. The study investigated polymorphisms in genes involved in brain neurotransmitter systems. This isn’t an Alzheimer’s disease study itself, but it could provide background for future work on genetic susceptibility to cognitive decline and dementia.

Support

Organizations are listed for informational purposes based on publicly available sources. Inclusion does not necessarily indicate affiliation with or endorsement by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI).

Belarus has no dedicated Alzheimer’s association or dementia-specific media publication. Broader charitable support is available through Caritas Belarus and Project Tabitha, which provides home nursing, practical assistance, and social activities that may support people with advanced dementia, ease caregiving demands, and promote social inclusion.

Selected national associations, patient family associations, NGOs:

Belarus lacks an Alzheimer’s disease association.

Selected initiatives

Project Tabitha provides home nursing and practical daily support for vulnerable people in Belarus, alongside activities promoting social inclusion. Although not dementia-specific, its services may support people with advanced dementia, ease caregiving demands, and improve quality of life.

Project Tabitha
Project Tabitha is a charitable social service initiative dedicated to assisting vulnerable populations in Belarus. The program focuses on two primary areas: delivering essential in-home nursing and daily care to seriously ill, bedridden, elderly, and individuals living with disabilities, and organising social integration activities for wheelchair users. By providing practical support for those confined to their homes — including people managing conditions like advanced dementia — while also facilitating weekend activities and field trips to improve mobility and inclusion, the project aims to alleviate the daily challenges of caregiving and improve the overall quality of life for its beneficiaries.

Dedicated media outlets

There is no dedicated Alzheimer’s disease or dementia news or media publication in Belarus.

Understanding the terms

This section explains key terms used throughout the text to help readers better understand the exploration concepts.
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Contents

Understanding the Terms

Terms used throughout this website are explained below.
A

Amyloid-Targeting Therapies (ATT): A class of disease-modifying treatments, primarily monoclonal antibodies, designed to identify and remove amyloid-beta plaques from the brain to slow cognitive and functional decline in early-stage Alzheimer’s. Examples include Lecanemab and Donanemab.

Aphasia: A language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate, often seen early in Frontotemporal Dementia.

APOE ε4 Allele: A genetic variant of the Apolipoprotein E gene that is a major risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease; while not a causative gene, its presence increases the likelihood of developing the condition.

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors: A class of medications, including Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Galantamine, used to treat cognitive symptoms by increasing levels of chemical messengers in the brain.

Advance Directives (DAT): Legal documents, such as Disposizioni Anticipate di Trattamento in Italy, that allow individuals to specify their future medical treatment and care preferences while they still have the capacity to do so.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD): The most common cause of dementia, characterized by a progressive neurodegenerative decline caused by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain.

Amyloid-beta Plaques: Protein fragments that build up in the spaces between nerve cells, disrupting communication and triggering immune responses.

Amyloid PET Scan: A specialized nuclear imaging test that uses radioactive tracers to visualize and measure the density of amyloid-beta plaques in the living brain.

Atrophy: The wasting away or shrinking of brain tissue, often measured via MRI to support a clinical diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

B

Biomarkers: Measurable biological indicators, such as proteins found in blood or cerebrospinal fluid, used to identify the underlying pathology of a disease.

Blood Biomarkers: Emerging, less-invasive diagnostic tests that measure specific proteins like p-tau or neurofilament levels in blood plasma to detect Alzheimer’s pathology.

C

CSF Analysis (Cerebrospinal Fluid): A diagnostic procedure involving a lumbar puncture to measure levels of tau and amyloid-beta proteins in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

CT Scan (Computed Tomography): A diagnostic imaging test using X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the brain; used primarily to rule out other causes of cognitive decline such as tumors or strokes.

Clock Drawing Test (CDT): A brief cognitive screening task where a patient is asked to ask to draw a clock face; it evaluates visuospatial and executive function.

Cognitive Screening: The process of using standardized tests to objectively measure an individual’s mental functions, such as memory, orientation, and attention.

Community-based Care: Healthcare and support services provided within the local community, such as daycare centers, home-based nursing, and local support groups, rather than in institutional settings.

Cube Copying Test: A visuospatial assessment task used during neuropsychological evaluations to test a patient’s ability to replicate geometric shapes.

D

Dementia: An umbrella term for a range of neurological conditions characterized by a decline in memory, language, and thinking skills severe enough to interfere with daily life.

Dementia-friendly Society: A community or national environment where citizens and businesses are trained to understand, respect, and support the needs of people living with dementia.

Disease-modifying Therapies (DMTs): A new class of treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies (e.g., Lecanemab), designed to target the underlying biological causes of Alzheimer’s rather than just managing symptoms.

E

Early-Onset Alzheimer’s: A form of the disease that affects people younger than age 65, often linked to the familial genes.

Executive Function: Higher-level mental skills including planning, focusing, and multitasking; these are often what the Clock Drawing Test evaluates.

F

FDG-PET: A type of PET scan that measures glucose metabolism in the brain to identify patterns characteristic of different dementia subtypes.

Familial Alzheimer’s Disease: A rare, genetic form of the disease linked to mutations in specific genes (APP, PSEN1, PSEN2) that typically presents with early-onset symptoms.

Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): A type of dementia caused by progressive nerve cell loss in the frontal or temporal lobes, leading to significant changes in behavior, personality, and language.

G

General Practitioner (GP): A primary care physician who acts as the first point of contact and gatekeeper for dementia diagnosis, providing initial assessments and referrals to specialists.

Genotyping: The analysis of an individual’s DNA to identify specific genetic variations associated with dementia risk or causation.

H

Hidden Cost: The indirect economic impacts of dementia, such as the loss of income for family members who must reduce working hours or leave their jobs to provide care.

I

Informal Care / Informal Caregiver: Unpaid care provided by family members, spouses, or friends, which represents the vast majority of long-term support for people living with dementia.

J

Japanese Cognitive Function Test (J-Cog): A specialized cognitive assessment tool used to evaluate mental and functional status in specific research or regional contexts.

L

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD): A type of progressive dementia that leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning, and independent function due to abnormal microscopic deposits that damage brain cells.

Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI): A specialized branch of insurance, found in systems like Germany and Singapore, that provides financial subsidies for daily living assistance and nursing care.

M

Memory Clinic: A specialized, often multidisciplinary center focused on the expert diagnosis, management, and treatment of dementia and cognitive disorders.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): An intermediate stage between normal aging and dementia where memory or thinking problems are noticeable but don’t yet prevent daily functioning.

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE): A 30-point standardized questionnaire used to measure cognitive impairment by testing orientation, recall, and attention.

Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): A cognitive screening tool designed to be more sensitive than the MMSE, particularly for identifying Mild Cognitive Impairment.

MRI Scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): A non-invasive technology using magnetic fields to produce detailed images of brain structure; used to assess brain atrophy and rule out secondary causes.

N

National Dementia Plan: A formal government strategy outlining a coordinated response to manage dementia diagnosis, care, research, and awareness at a national level.

National Health Insurance (NHI): A government-funded or regulated healthcare system providing universal or subsidized medical services to citizens.

Neuroimaging: The use of advanced techniques, such as CT, MRI, and PET, to visualize the structure and function of the brain for diagnostic purposes.

Neuroinflammation: The brain’s immune response to damage or protein buildup; while initially protective, chronic inflammation can accelerate neurodegeneration.

O

Out-of-Pocket Costs: Direct payments made by patients or their families for medical services, tests, or care that are not covered by insurance or public subsidies.

P

Preclinical Alzheimer’s: The stage where brain changes (like amyloid buildup) are present but no outward symptoms are yet visible.

S

Synaptic Loss: The destruction of synapses (the gaps where neurons communicate), which is often the strongest correlate to cognitive decline.

T

Tau Tangles: Twisted fibers of a protein called tau that build up inside nerve cells, destroying the cell’s transport system.

V

Vascular Dementia: The second most common type of dementia, caused by conditions that block or reduce blood flow to the brain, like strokes.