The Persistent Stigma Attached to Dementia Encourages Denial

Dear Carol: People write to you to complain about someone who, despite evidence, denies that they have dementia. I think I know why. At age 70, I was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Theoretically, that diagnosis means that I have a few more memory glitches than normal for my age. A percentage of people with MCI will develop Alzheimer’s disease, but not all. Yet, some family members treat me like I shouldn’t make decisions beyond what I want for dinner. Their attitude makes me want to push back. You can’t change others, but you have an audience, so I’m speaking through you to encourage people to fight against this unfair stigma. – AL

Dear AL: Thank you for writing. The stigma attached to mental illness, cognitive decline, and even aging, illustrates widespread ignorance of facts. The more people like you speak up the better the future will be for others. For now, work on educating your family about MCI. Consider taking one of them with you…

Continue reading on Inforum for the full column on MCI, dementia, and the stigma attached to both:

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