Dementia - Hawaii ADRC

Dementia is a general term for a group of symptoms such as memory loss, difficulties with language, problem-solving and other cognitive functions, which is caused by abnormal changes in the brain, damage to brain cells, and/or various brain diseases. Types of dementias include but are not limited to Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, Vascular dementia, Hippocampal sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, mixed dementias, Huntington's disease dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, dementia caused by traumatic brain injury, alcohol-related brain impairment, and Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome.

The World Health Organization estimates that dementia affects more than 55 million people worldwide,^[1] however, about 75% of dementia cases go undiagnosed.^[2] Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia.

The Alzheimer's Association Facts and Figures report estimates that there were 29,000 older adults (65 years and older) living with Alzheimer's disease in Hawai'i in 2020 and they were cared for by 60,000 family caregivers. By 2025, the number of people living with Alzheimer's disease is expected to rise to 35,000 older adults.^[3] This number does not include other types of dementia and the many individuals who may be undiagnosed.

Hawai'i 2035: State Plan on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

In 2013, the Executive Office on Aging (EOA) published a plan on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias and it was updated in 2020 when EOA received a planning grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to align the plan with the Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map. The newly revised plan, Hawai'i 2035: State Strategic Plan on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias was published in October 2023. Additionally, EOA contracted with Papa Ola Lōkahi to publish a Native Hawaiian Road Map: Navigating Impact of Nā Ma'i Poina: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Among Native Hawaiians.^[4]

EOA will be working with a coalition of community partners to provide information and training to health care professionals, community groups, and families about brain health and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. There are also local researchers investigating causes and treatments for the disease. Click here to read the plan and learn more.

^{[1] World Health Organization: WHO & World Health Organization: WHO. (2023). Dementia. www.who.int.}
^{[2] Alzheimer’s Disease International, Mana Communications. (2021, November 21). Over 41 million cases of dementia go undiagnosed across the globe – World Alzheimer Report reveals [Press Release].}
^{[3] Facts and Figures for Hawaii at https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf}
^{[4] www.papaolalokahi.org/program/kupuna-brain-health}