Poland

The MMSE is one of the most widely used screening tools for dementia globally and in Poland. The Polish adaptation is frequently employed due to its reliability, ease of use, and availability. The Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS) is also adapted for the Polish language and is considered to have advantage over MMSE due to the latter’s limited sensitivity, particularly in assessing executive functions. The adapted Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (including MoCA 7.2 version) is one of the most available tests in Poland and it has been shown to outperform MMSE in identifying mild cognitive deficits.

MRI and CT scans are widely used in routine clinical practice in Poland to support the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias. However, access to diagnostic imaging for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is challenged by significant delays, especially in the public healthcare system. Waiting times for MRI, CT, and PET-CT scans vary considerably depending on the region and the urgency of the referral.

For MRI scans, patients can expect an average national wait time of around 80 days for the scan itself, followed by an additional 27 days for the radiology report. More recent data (January 2025) shows some improvement, with the national average MRI wait time reduced to approximately 58 days.

PET imaging, including amyloid PET (detecting amyloid-β plaques) and tau PET (visualizing tau tangles), is even more constrained in clinical use. While PET/CT infrastructure exists in Poland and is expanding, access is strongly shaped by National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, NFZ) reimbursement policies, which limit the number and indications of publicly funded scans. Importantly, PET imaging is primarily reimbursed for oncological indications, and only covered when strict criteria are met; otherwise, patients must pay out of pocket.

Genetic testing for Alzheimer’s disease is not part of routine care for most patients. However, two main types of tests are available in private clinics: APOE genotyping and next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels for early-onset or familial Alzheimer’s disease.

Both APOE genotyping and broad NGS panels are technically available in Poland, their use is limited and mostly concentrated in high-risk, early-onset, or research contexts. For the average patient with late-onset Alzheimer’s, genetic testing is usually self-funded if pursued at all.

CSF and PET biomarker tools, specifically cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, are underutilised across healthcare systems, including Poland, largely due to cost, infrastructure requirements, and limited availability. CSF biomarker testing involves the analysis of amyloid beta 1-42 (Aβ42), total tau (t-tau), and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in cerebrospinal fluid obtained via lumbar puncture. Although this method is recognised as one of the most diagnostically valuable tools for confirming Alzheimer’s pathology, its use in Poland is largely confined to specialist neurology clinics and research settings. In routine practice, diagnosis still relies primarily on cognitive testing and structural imaging, with CSF testing used selectively, partly because it is invasive and not systematically embedded in standard diagnostic pathways.

While fully dedicated Alzheimer’s clinics are still rare, several regional centres and hospital departments offer advanced diagnostic and care services tailored to dementia.

University Hospital in Kraków (Szpital Uniwersytecki w Krakowie) is a leading tertiary and academic centre with a specialised neurology department and multidisciplinary teams (neurologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists). It offers comprehensive dementia diagnostics, including cognitive testing and advanced imaging (MRI/CT), and plays a key role in complex cases and research-linked care.

John Paul II Western Hospital, Grodzisk Mazowiecki is a modern regional hospital near Warsaw providing standard dementia diagnostic work-ups, including neurological consultations, imaging, and cognitive assessments. It functions as an accessible referral centre within the public system.

Constance Care Rehabilitation Centre (Konstancin Care) is a private, multidisciplinary facility focused on neurorehabilitation and cognitive therapy, particularly for patients in moderate to advanced stages. It provides longer-term support through physiotherapy, neuropsychology, and functional rehabilitation, typically on a private-pay basis.

The total annual cost, including direct medical and non-medical expenses, as well as indirect costs like lost productivity, is estimated at over 11 billion PLN. Of this, around 5.4 billion PLN is spent on care, medications, and hygiene products. While another 5.7 billion PLN reflects economic losses from caregivers reducing or stopping work.

Family direct costs range from 1,000 PLN to over 2,500 PLN per three months to cover medications, hygiene supplies, and private medical visits. In many cases, this represents a third of a typical pension.

Monthly fees in private care facilities range from 2,500 PLN (for shared rooms) up to 8,000 PLN or more (for single rooms in high-standard facilities).

In state-run homes, residents pay up to 70% of their income, while the remainder is covered by family or local authorities. Average costs are typically 2,500–3,000 PLN/month.

Families may access several aid programs including care allowance for informal caregivers is around 2,988 PLN/month and allowance for non-working caregivers as well as tax reliefs: Health equipment, home adaptations, and care services may qualify as deductions.

In Poland, caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease have access to a combination of informational, financial, and legal support. A key educational resource is the guide “Poradnik dla opiekunów osób chorych na Alzheimera,” published jointly by the NZF and the Polish Alzheimer’s Society, which provides practical guidance on disease progression, daily care routines, legal issues, and psychological support. In parallel, the government offers several forms of financial assistance: the świadczenie pielęgnacyjne (care allowance), currently around 2,988 PLN per month, is available to individuals who leave employment to provide full-time care; the zasiłek pielęgnacyjny, approximately 215.84 PLN per month, offers more general support; and the specjalny zasiłek opiekuńczy is targeted at certain informal caregivers outside formal employment. Additional support is available through rehabilitation tax relief, which allows deductions for expenses related to care services, assistive devices, and medical equipment, helping to offset the broader financial burden of long-term dementia care.

Moreover, local social services can arrange for home visits by care workers handling tasks like medication reminders, shopping, and light household chores, often with partial or full financial subsidy depending on income.

Day Care Centers (“Dom Dzienny Pobytu”) and Senior Clubs are often volunteer-run or social-service-linked places provide engaging activities, like singing, reading aloud, group games, or walks, for people in early to mid-stages of AD. Caregivers benefit from a few respite hours. In general, multiple Alzheimer’s or dementia-focused hotlines exist across Poland, offering free emotional support, counselling, and guidance to caregivers.

The Ministry of Health has drafted the “Krajowy Program Działań wobec Chorób Otępiennych na lata 2025–2030” (National Program of Actions against Dementia for 2025–2030). This plan is in the stage of final inter-ministerial consultations and is expected to be officially adopted—most likely in 2025.

The program’s key objectives include:

– Systematizing and expanding existing support for people with dementia and their caregivers
– Developing new, systemic solutions within available funding frameworks
– Enhancing inter-ministerial collaboration and engagement with civil society
– Improving the quality of life for patients and support for caregivers.