The Dementia Alliance of Malaysia (DAMAI), together with Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM), Johor Bahru Alzheimer’s Disease Support Association (JOBADA), Dementia Society Perak and Penang Dementia Association, welcomes the release today of the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2025 by the Ministry of Health (MOH).
We are deeply concerned by the finding that 10 per cent of Malaysians aged 60 years and above are now living with dementia. This represents a significant increase from the 8.5 per cent prevalence of probable dementia among older persons recorded in NHMS 2018.
This rise comes despite encouraging improvements in other indicators of healthy ageing reported between 2018 and 2025, including reductions in depression and improved ability among older Malaysians to carry out activities of daily living.
These gains show that progress is possible when ageing-related health issues receive focused attention.
However, the increase in dementia prevalence is a warning that Malaysia must now treat brain health as a national priority.
The increase in prevalence could be due to increasing life expectancy with those aged 80 years and over now making up a much bigger proportion of our older population.
Another explanation for this trend may be the growing burden of metabolic disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and high cholesterol in the population.
These are well-established risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia, and their increasing prevalence underscores the need for stronger prevention strategies across the life course.
The MOH’s own Dementia Action Plan identifies cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes mellitus, obesity, high cholesterol, hearing loss, physical inactivity, and depression among modifiable dementia risks.
Time to Fully Implement The National Dementia Action Plan
Malaysia already has an important roadmap in the Dementia Action Plan 2023–2030, which sets out strategic priorities including public awareness, strengthening health care and social support systems, research and innovation, and better monitoring and evaluation.
Yet to date, implementation of the plan has not been matched by dedicated and visible funding through the national budget.
We therefore call on the government to urgently allocate specific resources for the implementation of the Dementia Action Plan, including:
- Public awareness and stigma reduction campaigns to improve understanding of dementia and encourage early help-seeking.
- Earlier detection and diagnosis through routine cognitive screening and stronger primary care pathways.
- Risk reduction programmes targeting diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, hearing loss, physical inactivity, and social isolation.
- Support for families and caregivers, including training, respite care and community-based services.
- Expansion of dementia-friendly communities and day care or support centres nationwide.
- Training for health care and social care professionals in dementia care.
- Better national data collection and research investment to monitor trends and outcomes.
A Whole-Of-Society Response Needed
As Malaysia moves toward becoming an aged nation, dementia will increasingly affect families, workplaces, health care services and the economy. Dementia is not only a medical issue — it is a social, caregiving, and development challenge.
The rise from 2018 to 2025 should be seen as a call to action. With timely intervention, many cases can be delayed, people living with dementia can live with dignity, and families can be better supported.
Our organisations stand ready to work with the MOH, policymakers and all stakeholders to ensure that every Malaysian affected by dementia receives the care, respect and support they deserve.
This statement was issued by Prof Dr Tan Maw Pin on behalf of Dementia Alliance of Malaysia (DAMAI), Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM), Johor Bahru Alzheimer’s Disease Support Association (JOBADA), Dementia Society Perak, and Penang Dementia Association.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
