Thiruvananthapuram: Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is emerging as one of the most pressing health and social challenges in Kerala, where an ageing population and rising lifestyle-related illnesses are driving up cases. Health experts warn that unless urgent steps are taken to improve early detection and support systems, families and communities will face an overwhelming burden in the years ahead.
In an opinion piece published, neurologist Dr. Sareesh Kumar stressed that dementia’s severity is often underestimated, especially in its early stages. He highlighted common warning signs memory loss, confusion about time and place, difficulty with familiar activities, poor decision-making, and personality changes,urging families and primary care providers to recognize symptoms earlier and seek medical help.
Recent research supports his concerns. A 2025 study estimates that 7.4% of Indians over 60 live with dementia, with Kerala likely recording a higher prevalence due to its older population profile. Experts also point to vascular conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol as major, but preventable, risk factors for cognitive decline.
“The real challenge is that people still mistake dementia for natural ageing,” Dr. Kumar wrote. “This delays diagnosis, increases caregiver strain, and adds to the economic burden on families.”
While Kerala has pioneered some initiatives, including community mental health programs in the northern districts, the overall availability of memory clinics, day-care centres, and trained specialists remains limited. Nationwide, India has fewer than 50 dedicated dementia care centres, leaving rural areas particularly underserved.
New clinical guidelines released this year recommend routine screening for mild cognitive impairment in primary health centres, while innovations such as AI-based MRI scans and retinal imaging are showing promise in detecting early Alzheimer’s. However, cost and accessibility remain barriers.
Advocates are calling for a national dementia policy that integrates screening, treatment, caregiver support, and public awareness campaigns into existing health programs. Without coordinated planning, experts warn, India could see dementia prevalence double within a decade.
Dr. Kumar and other specialists suggest a multi-pronged approach: strengthening chronic disease control, launching culturally tailored awareness drives, expanding caregiver training and respite care services, and investing in low-cost diagnostic research.
“Kerala can lead the way in building a community-based model of dementia care,” said a senior psychiatrist involved in the Rythm Community Mental Health Program. “But to make an impact, we need political will, sustained funding, and above all, public recognition that dementia is a disease—not just a part of ageing.”
With the state’s demographic shift accelerating, experts say the time to act is now. Otherwise, dementia could become Kerala’s next silent epidemic, straining not just health systems but the very fabric of family and community life.