Marco Canevelli1,2, Valerio Zaccaria3,4, Eleonora Lacorte4, Ilaria Cova5, Giuseppe Gervasi4, Silvia Cascini6, Anna Maria Bargagli6, Teresa Di Fiandra7, Simone Pomati5, Leonardo Pantoni8, Nicola Vanacore4. 1. Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy. marco.canevelli@gmail.com. 2. National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy. marco.canevelli@gmail.com. 3. Department of Human Neuroscience, "Sapienza" University, Viale dell'Università 30, 00185, Rome, Italy. 4. National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy. 5. Center for Research and Treatment on Cognitive Dysfunctions, "Luigi Sacco" University Hospital, Milan, Italy. 6. Department of Epidemiology, Regional Health Service, Lazio Region, Rome, Italy. 7. General Directorate for Health Prevention, Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy. 8. Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The occurrence of dementia among individuals with a migration background and composing ethnic minorities is being recognized as a global public health issue. AIMS: In the present study, we sought to explore if and how this phenomenon is mentioned and addressed by the existing National Dementia Plans (NDPs). METHODS: The 32 NDPs listed on the Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI)'s website were considered for the present analysis. First, the plans mentioning the issue of dementia among migrants and/or ethnic minorities were identified. Subsequently, the sections addressing this topic and the pertaining proposed actions were analyzed and their contents were unbundled in descriptive categories. RESULTS: Overall, nine NDPs (28.1% of the total), namely those promulgated by Australia, Austria, England, Israel, Norway, Switzerland, Taiwan, United States, and Wales, mentioned the issue of dementia among migrants and/or ethnic minorities and only eight proposed targeted actions to tackle this issue. With few exceptions, the proposed strategies were only marginally dashed within NDPs and crucial information on their objectives, timeline, conduction, and monitoring was missing. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to describe and discuss how the issue of dementia among migrants and ethnic minority groups is addressed within NDPs. The issue of dementia in migrants and ethnic minorities is assuming a growing relevance under a of global health perspective. The timely identification and implementation of dedicated policies at the national and international level are fundamental to limit its future clinical and socioeconomic burden.
BACKGROUND: The occurrence of dementia among individuals with a migration background and composing ethnic minorities is being recognized as a global public health issue. AIMS: In the present study, we sought to explore if and how this phenomenon is mentioned and addressed by the existing National Dementia Plans (NDPs). METHODS: The 32 NDPs listed on the Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI)'s website were considered for the present analysis. First, the plans mentioning the issue of dementia among migrants and/or ethnic minorities were identified. Subsequently, the sections addressing this topic and the pertaining proposed actions were analyzed and their contents were unbundled in descriptive categories. RESULTS: Overall, nine NDPs (28.1% of the total), namely those promulgated by Australia, Austria, England, Israel, Norway, Switzerland, Taiwan, United States, and Wales, mentioned the issue of dementia among migrants and/or ethnic minorities and only eight proposed targeted actions to tackle this issue. With few exceptions, the proposed strategies were only marginally dashed within NDPs and crucial information on their objectives, timeline, conduction, and monitoring was missing. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to describe and discuss how the issue of dementia among migrants and ethnic minority groups is addressed within NDPs. The issue of dementia in migrants and ethnic minorities is assuming a growing relevance under a of global health perspective. The timely identification and implementation of dedicated policies at the national and international level are fundamental to limit its future clinical and socioeconomic burden.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cognitive disturbances; Cross-cultural assessment; Dementia; Global health; Health inequalities; Migration
Authors: Tim Schmachtenberg; Jessica Monsees; Wolfgang Hoffmann; Neeltje van den Berg; Ulrike Stentzel; Jochen René Thyrian Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2020-05-26 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Tim Schmachtenberg; Jessica Monsees; Wolfgang Hoffmann; Neeltje van den Berg; Ulrike Stentzel; Jochen René Thyrian Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2020-10-15 Impact factor: 3.295