In a recent Q&A with Yale News, Kivipelto explained the stigma surrounding Alzheimer\u2019s disease, the harmful consequences of such attitudes, and the importance of challenging them.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The interview has been edited for length\u00a0and\u00a0clarity.<\/p>\n
Why is there so much stigma surrounding Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other types of\u00a0dementia?<\/p>\n
Miia Kivipelto: Memory is linked to our personality and our way of being. It\u2019s so central for how we communicate and who we are. It\u2019s also often thought of as related to aging and is not always seen as a\u00a0disease.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There are a few important things that I hope can change this situation. First, Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other dementing disorders are brain disorders with clear pathology. They\u2019re not only part of normal aging, but this is really a brain disease. Second, there are ways to reduce the risk, and you can have a good quality of life even with the disease. It\u2019s not the end of the world. Of course, it\u2019s always challenging to get the diagnosis. Third, Alzheimer\u2019s disease doesn\u2019t only come later in life. The process starts at midlife, so I would like us to see the disease as starting at midlife. That may change attitudes about the disease as\u00a0well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What are some of the real-world impacts of that\u00a0stigma?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kivipelto:\u00a0It often means delayed diagnosis. That\u2019s a huge challenge because many medications have the biggest impact when you start them early. I\u2019ve had patients who have first been diagnosed with depression, burnout, or many other things. So, they\u2019ve been navigating the health care system for quite a long time. The right diagnosis can be important for medical reasons but also\u00a0psychologically.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How can people challenge the stigma that\u00a0persists?<\/p>\n
Kivipelto:\u00a0By increasing awareness. Both in terms of the general public but also health care providers. At Yale, one of our goals is to better educate primary care doctors about Alzheimer\u2019s disease. We want to give them tools for how they can work with the diagnosis and with the interventions. So, education and awareness are really\u00a0important.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We also need to have a more positive message. Disease is always disease, but sometimes people feel that Alzheimer\u2019s disease is the worst diagnosis you can get. Nowadays, when you get the diagnosis much earlier, you can live many good quality years with the disease. You can always do something for a better quality of\u00a0life.<\/p>\n
How is the Center for Aging Well addressing stigma through its\u00a0work?<\/p>\n