How stigma is leading to a dangerous delay in dementia diagnosis

A new government report has estimated that over 411,000 Australians are living with dementia.

How stigma is leading to a dangerous delay in dementia diagnosis Credit: Envato / thichas

Key Points

• Dementia describes a collection of symptoms all caused by disorders affecting the brain, including loss of the ability to think, remember, and reason.
• Despite being synonymous with ageing, not everyone living with dementia is elderly with the estimate of 29,000 people have young onset.
• Experts and advocacy groups also say stigma can lead to delays in people seeking help, a timely diagnosis and treatment.