Seychelles

Seychelles operates without a national dementia strategy or a network of specialised memory clinics, leaving a significant gap in formal diagnostic infrastructure. To manage daily care needs, the government has intervened by creating the Home Care Agency, a dedicated body tasked with professionalising and regulating domestic support for the elderly. This statutory framework is bolstered by the Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation, which delivers essential services ranging from certified caregiver training to “joyful get-togethers” designed to foster social inclusion.

Overall
AD Rating
Diagnostic Pathway
Diagnostic infrastructure in Seychelles is unstandardised and heavily constrained, lacking national Ministry of Health clinical guidelines, routine neuropsychological testing, or public access to advanced neuroimaging and biomarker diagnostics.
Specialized Care
Basic healthcare services, primary care consultations, and public hospital visits are provided free at the point of care or heavily subsidised through universal government funding.
Caregiver Support
Informal carers carry the primary long-term caregiving duties, supported by the government-established Home Care Agency — which regulates and professionalises domestic support — and active civil society programs led by the Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation (SAF).
National Policies
Seychelles does not possess a standalone national dementia strategy, and cognitive health priorities are absent from the broader National Health Strategic Plan 2022–2026.
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)
Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation
National dementia plan
Dementia plan funding
No plan
Dementia prevalence rate
603
Dementia incidence rate
103
*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

134,173

Median age

34.6

Health expenditure (% of GDP)

4.2

Diagnosis

Dementia assessment in Seychelles operates without a published national pathway, standardised testing protocols, or waiting-time data, while specialist capacity remains limited. Public consultations are generally free or subsidised for eligible residents, although private diagnostics may require personal payment. CT is available publicly and privately, and MRI privately. However, no published evidence confirms local public availability of advanced dementia neuroimaging, Alzheimer’s genetic testing, CSF biomarkers, or validated blood-based biomarkers.

Diagnosis pathway

Seychelles has no publicly documented national pathway for dementia diagnosis. Community awareness, early identification, and referral are promoted by the Health Care Agency and Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation, although specific primary-care assessment procedures are unclear. Specialist diagnostic services, professional training, and structured pathways remain limited. There is no published evidence of routine neuropsychological testing, dementia subtype assessment, biomarker diagnostics, or a standardised referral system between primary care and neurology or geriatric services.

There is no publicly available national clinical guideline from the Seychelles Ministry of Health that explicitly sets out a formal Alzheimer’s disease or dementia diagnostic pathway. Existing public information instead shows that dementia is recognised as a growing public-health issue and that awareness, early identification, and referral are being promoted through the Health Care Agency (HCA) and the Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation (SAF). SAF advocacy materials and Health Care Agency outreach describe dementia symptoms being identified in the community and brought to the attention of healthcare professionals for further assessment, but they do not document specific clinical steps or tools used in primary care.

Specialist diagnosis and ongoing care are acknowledged as limited and under development. Public reporting and SAF advocacy highlight gaps in specialist services, training, and structured dementia care pathways, with calls for improved access to diagnosis and support. There is no published evidence describing routine use of neuropsychological testing, dementia subtype work-up, or biomarker-based diagnostics within Seychelles’ public system, nor is there a documented national referral pathway from primary care to neurology/geriatrics.

Wait times

There are no published national data on waiting times for general practitioner (GP) appointments, specialist consultations, cognitive assessments, or diagnostic imaging related to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Diagnosis cost

Mostly or fully covered

Government-funded healthcare generally covers GP and public specialist consultations, but families may face personal costs for private care and advanced diagnostics without insurance coverage.

For Seychellois citizens and legal residents, GP consultations and public hospital specialist visits are generally provided free at the point of care or heavily subsidised, with costs borne by the government through the Health Care Agency. Private services and advanced diagnostics (imaging outside the public system, genetic tests, biomarkers) typically require out-of-pocket payment or private insurance coverage, and families may bear those costs if not covered. There are no publicly posted official cost lists for Alzheimer’s disease diagnostics in public healthcare, and detailed copayment structures are not available in the government sources.

Cognitive tests

Limited

Specific tests or standardised assessment protocols are not documented publicly.

Imaging tests

Used in specific cases

Structural brain imaging is available on-island. Computed tomography (CT) scanning is available through the public hospital and private providers and is used for general diagnostic purposes, including neurological indications. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services are available privately, with recent expansion of MRI capacity reported in the private sector. There is no evidence that advanced neuroimaging for Alzheimer’s disease (such as amyloid or tau positron emission tomography (PET) scans, functional MRI for dementia diagnostics, or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) dementia protocols) is available locally within the public system.

Genetic tests

There is no published evidence that clinical genetic testing for Alzheimer’s disease (including apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping or testing for familial Alzheimer’s disease genes such as APP, PSEN1, or PSEN2) is available or routinely used within Seychelles’ public healthcare system.

Biomarker tests

Rarely used

There is no documented availability of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers (amyloid-β, total tau, phosphorylated tau) or validated blood-based Alzheimer’s biomarkers within Seychelles’ public healthcare services.

Cognitive Tests

Limited

Specific tests or standardised assessment protocols are not documented publicly.

Imaging Tests

Used in specific cases

Structural brain imaging is available on-island. Computed tomography (CT) scanning is available through the public hospital and private providers and is used for general diagnostic purposes, including neurological indications. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) services are available privately, with recent expansion of MRI capacity reported in the private sector. There is no evidence that advanced neuroimaging for Alzheimer’s disease (such as amyloid or tau positron emission tomography (PET) scans, functional MRI for dementia diagnostics, or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) dementia protocols) is available locally within the public system.

Genetic Tests

There is no published evidence that clinical genetic testing for Alzheimer’s disease (including apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotyping or testing for familial Alzheimer’s disease genes such as APP, PSEN1, or PSEN2) is available or routinely used within Seychelles’ public healthcare system.

Biomarker Tests

Rarely used

There is no documented availability of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers (amyloid-β, total tau, phosphorylated tau) or validated blood-based Alzheimer’s biomarkers within Seychelles’ public healthcare services.

Treatment & Care

Seychelles lacks coordinated specialist dementia services, with no national memory clinics, dedicated Alzheimer’s centre, or documented dementia day-care provision. Palliative care is limited and fragmented, while private and domiciliary services provide some support. Despite universal basic healthcare, information on Alzheimer’s treatment coverage, reimbursement, and out-of-pocket costs is limited. Caregivers receive no dedicated dementia allowance, although the Home Care Agency supports access to formal home care, and SAF provides non-financial assistance through training, support groups, workshops, and home visits.

Specialized facilities and services

Dementia-specific services in Seychelles are limited, with no national memory-clinic network, specialist Alzheimer’s centre, or documented dedicated day centres. Private outpatient and home-care services provide some support, alongside caregiver training and community assistance from SAF and other NGOs. Palliative care is available through limited hospice, hospital, and residential facilities but remains fragmented, without a coordinated national system or specialist unit. Shortages of trained professionals, equipment, and formal clinical training further restrict service quality.

There is no evidence of a nationally commissioned memory clinic network or a publicly run specialist Alzheimer’s disease centre in Seychelles. Private clinics offer some specialist outpatient services, but these are not described as a coordinated memory-clinic service. Dedicated day-centres for people living with dementia are not documented in public sources. There is evidence of home-healthcare and domiciliary care services (private home-health providers and SAF-led training for domiciliary carers), and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)/charities run community support and training for carers. Seychelles has palliative care provision through a small number of hospices, supported by the Ministry of Health and civil society. There is no coordinated or organised palliative care system, and no formal training exists for most clinicians in Seychelles. The 2015 conference paper reports that palliative care services were fragmented, with no national policy, no specialist palliative care unit, and very limited trained personnel; only one nurse was noted to have received community palliative care training at the time. A small hospice facility with six dedicated palliative beds existed, alongside use of a rehabilitative hospital and a large residential home for older adults and chronically ill patients, but these were not structured as modern specialist palliative care services. Many patients accessed palliative care only at very advanced stages of illness, and shortages of equipment, staff, and training significantly constrained service quality.

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

Although there is universal coverage for basic services, the public system does not publish specific information on coverage, pricing, or reimbursement for Alzheimer’s disease treatments, including medications, long-term therapies, or supportive care. As a result, it is unclear which treatments are consistently provided free of charge and which may require out-of-pocket payment, particularly when services or medicines are unavailable in public facilities and must be obtained privately.

Caregiver support

Financial assistance specifically for dementia caregivers is not documented in Seychelles. The Home Care Agency is developing and regulating home-based support for older and disabled people, while SAF provides practical assistance through certified training, caregiver workshops, support groups, and home visits rather than direct financial aid.

There is no documented national financial allowance or cash-for-carers scheme in Seychelles specifically for caregivers of people living with Alzheimer’s disease. State provision for home-based care is being developed: the recently established Home Care Agency (government) now registers carers and recipients, administers home-care applications, and aims to regularise and improve home care services for the elderly and disabled — which creates a formal route for people needing home support but does not equate to a guaranteed paid carer allowance. The Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation (SAF) provides training, support groups, home visits, and caregiver workshops to strengthen family carers’ skills and access to community support, including certified caregiver training courses. These programmes provide practical and educational support but are typically non-financial.

Policy

Dementia policy in Seychelles remains without a dedicated national strategy or specific Alzheimer’s legislation. Government collaboration with SAF and international training initiatives are strengthening services, professional capacity, and awareness, while broader mental-health and social-care reforms may indirectly improve safeguards. However, these developments have not established dementia-specific statutory protections, anti-stigma legislation, or formal policy measures addressing cultural stigma.

National dementia plan

There is no published national strategy specifically for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia in Seychelles as a standalone policy; official health strategy documents (e.g., the National Health Strategic Plan 2022–2026) do not include a dedicated Alzheimer’s disease or dementia strategy within their formal frameworks.

Upcoming plans

There are ongoing advocacy and collaborative initiatives, such as memoranda of understanding between the Ministry of Health and the Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation aimed at developing dementia care services, and international training partnerships to build capacity in dementia care and awareness; however, these do not yet constitute an officially adopted national dementia strategy.

Policy gaps

Legal barriers

Recent legal/policy developments show attention to mental-health governance (a Mental Health Care Agency Bill and government symposiums on elderly/disabled laws), indicating institutional reform that could affect dementia care and safeguards, although none of these yet constitute a dementia-specific anti-stigma law or dedicated statutory protections for Alzheimer’s disease.

Cultural barriers

Cultural stigma is not formally documented or targeted at the policy level.

Research

Local Alzheimer’s research capacity in Seychelles is limited, despite the presence of the University of Seychelles. No dedicated dementia research centre, clinical trials network, recruiting Alzheimer’s studies, or locally led experimental research has been identified.

Selected academic institutions

The University of Seychelles

Clinical trials and registries

There is no evidence of an established local clinical trials network for dementia research centre based in Seychelles. International trial registries like ClinicalTrials.gov or the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) list many Alzheimer’s disease research studies conducted worldwide, but a search does not currently show any trials specifically recruiting in Seychelles or conducted by a Seychelles site. Also, there is no dedicated Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials website.

Selected innovative methods

There is no indication of locally led clinical or experimental research on Alzheimer’s disease methods or therapies being conducted in Seychelles.

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).

SAF is Seychelles’ main dementia-focused information and community-support organisation, providing social events and caregiver engagement, while the National Council for the Elderly offers broader support. No dedicated dementia media outlets exist.

Selected national associations, patient family associations, NGOs:

Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation The National Council for the Elderly

Selected initiatives

Support events:The Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation runs regular social gatherings and support events for people living with dementia and their carers, such as joyful get-togethers that bring together people for shared activities and music.

Dedicated media outlets

There are no dedicated media outlets focusing on dementia in Seychelles. Seychelles Alzheimer’s Foundation’s website serves as the main hub for information and contact in the country.

Understanding the terms

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