The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new report, Dementia in refugees and migrants: epidemiology, public health implications and global health responses, which synthesizes the latest global evidence on the factors affecting the health and care of displaced populations and offers policy considerations to address these challenges. This is the sixth report in the Global Evidence Review on Health and Migration (GEHM) series .
Dementia: A growing public health challenge
Dementia affects over 57 million people worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases each year. It is the seventh leading cause of death and a major driver of disability among older people. While no cure exists, physical activity, social engagement, and some medications can help manage symptoms. However, people with dementia frequently face discrimination and barriers to care, highlighting the need for robust policies that safeguard their rights and ensure access to support services.
Refugees and migrants with dementia face greater barriers to care
For refugees and migrants, these challenges are even more pronounced. Many face limited access to culturally and linguistically appropriate care, disrupted support networks, and the compounded effects of migration-related stressors. A lack of cross-cultural assessment tools and limited specialist training for health care professionals contributes to underdiagnosis and undertreatment among refugees and migrants.
As migration and forced displacement due to economic factors, conflict, climate change, and food insecurity intensifies, the number of older refugees and migrants is rising. Yet dementia in these populations remains largely overlooked in health policies and crisis response plans.
Data and research on dementia prevalence and risk factors among refugees and migrants are scarce, making it difficult to design effective interventions. Without comprehensive, disaggregated data, health systems cannot tailor services to meet the needs of refugees and migrants.
"Dementia care must be an integral part of migration and public health policies. Refugees and migrants have the same right to health as everyone else, yet too often face systemic barriers to care" said Dr Santino Severoni, Director of WHO's Department of Health and Migration. "Urgent action is needed to ensure timely diagnosis, effective treatment, and appropriate support for both individuals and their carers."
Urgent action needed to address dementia in refugees and migrants:
"Refugees and migrants, already vulnerable due to displacement, face additional risks when it comes to dementia" said Dévora Kestel, Director of WHO's Department of Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use. "The report highlights the critical need for health systems and emergency responses to be equipped to address the unique barriers these populations face in accessing timely and appropriate dementia care".
The report synthesises available global evidence on dementia in refugees and migrants and puts forward a series of policy considerations to governments, policymakers, and programme managers in Ministries of Health and other ministries.
- Policy and legislation: Ensure inclusion of refugees and migrants in national and regional dementia-related policies, legislation, and frameworks, and position dementia within broader health agendas addressing refugee and migrant populations.
- Awareness and inclusion: Launch national and local campaigns and policy engagement to raise awareness of dementia in refugee and migrant communities. Develop dementia-friendly and dementia-inclusive environments, including in emergency displacement settings.
- Risk reduction: Design and implement culturally and linguistically sensitive, evidence-informed interventions to lower dementia risk among refugees and migrants. Integrate dementia risk reduction into broader noncommunicable disease prevention policies and strengthen research on risk and protective factors.
- Diagnosis, treatment, and care: Improve access to healthcare by addressing barriers to dementia diagnosis and treatment, particularly among refugees and migrants. Develop integrated care pathways and provide training for health and social care professionals working with refugees and migrants.
- Support for carers: Implement training and legal protections for carers of refugees and migrants with dementia. Ensure access to care and support services, particularly in emergency settings, and involve family caregivers in care planning and policymaking.
- Health information systems and monitoring: Strengthen national surveillance and monitoring systems to include data on dementia in refugees and migrants. Expand the evidence base on dementia prevalence and its public health implications in these populations, including addressing the priority evidence gaps brought forward in this Global evidence review.
- Research and innovation: Prioritize dementia in refugees and migrants within the global research agenda. Increase investment and collaboration to develop innovative solutions tailored to their unique needs.
This sixth report of the GEHM series was developed by WHO Health and Migration, in collaboration with the Department of Mental Health, Brain Health, and Substance Use. The GEHM series provides policymakers with evidence-based insights and policy considerations to address the health needs of refugees and migrants
