People living with dementia face profound difficulties in their daily lives, struggling with memory loss, confusion, and an increasing inability to perform routine tasks. These challenges often lead to deep frustration and feelings of helplessness. The obstacles they encounter are complex and far-reaching, including delays in diagnosis, physical deterioration, cognitive decline, emotional turmoil, social withdrawal, and the practical difficulties of receiving proper care. At the same time, family members and carers experience tremendous emotional pressure, physical exhaustion, and significant financial burdens as they try to provide adequate support. Communication breakdowns and unpredictable changes in behavior further complicate relationships, creating tension and misunderstandings. The situation is made worse by insufficient support services and the persistent stigma surrounding dementia, leaving both patients and their carers feeling isolated and overwhelmed.

Hong Kong's aging population makes these challenges particularly pressing. Recent government statistics show that 21% of Hong Kong's 7.5 million residents are aged 65 or older, marking the city's transition into a "super-aged" society. Research from The Chinese University of Hong Kong indicates that 10% of people over 70 living in the community have dementia, with most cases going undiagnosed in its early stages. This suggests there may be tens of thousands of older people in Hong Kong currently living with undetected early-stage dementia, missing out on crucial early intervention opportunities.

The Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing has been at the forefront of addressing these issues. As an organization dedicated to serving people with dementia, we provide comprehensive services while also offering professional training for carers and conducting important research to improve care standards. In 2023, we were thrilled to receive approval from the Jockey Club Charities Trust for our ambitious "Brain Health" Dementia Screening and Community Support Programme. This four-year initiative represents the largest support programme for early-stage dementia patients and their families in Hong Kong's history, focusing on early detection through screening, coordinated medical and social services, and robust community support.

Diagnosing dementia presents significant challenges that contribute to delayed detection. The process currently depends heavily on specialists like geriatricians, neurologists, and psychiatrists, whose limited availability creates long waiting times in public healthcare and expensive private options. Many elderly individuals consequently postpone seeking help. Expanding training for family doctors in dementia care could greatly improve this situation. Another major hurdle is the subtle nature of early symptoms, which patients often fail to recognize and families frequently misinterpret as normal aging, leading to dangerous delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Early detection makes a crucial difference in dementia outcomes. When treatment begins in the early stages, medications can more effectively slow cognitive decline. Early diagnosis also gives patients and families valuable time to prepare for the future and make important care arrangements. Maintaining brain health through social interaction, regular exercise, proper nutrition, and good sleep habits can help preserve cognitive function, but dementia makes these healthy behaviors increasingly difficult to maintain. Patients often struggle with poor appetite, disrupted sleep patterns, and diminished motivation, while many also battle chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension that require careful medication management - a particular challenge for those with memory problems.