Kolkata, September 21, 2026: On the occasion of World Alzheimer’s Day, Annantaa has underscored the profound importance of recognising cognitive changes at an early stage and seeking timely professional evaluation for dementia. Aligning with this year’s global theme, “The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters,” the initiative seeks to foster greater awareness about dementia as an increasingly significant public-health concern.
Rather than attributing persistent changes in memory, cognition, behaviour or everyday functioning merely to the natural process of ageing, Annantaa encourages individuals and families to observe such changes with sensitivity and discernment. Early recognition can offer families greater clarity about what may be unfolding, while enabling them to seek appropriate guidance, support and care at the right juncture.
As part of the initiative, Annantaa brings the dimensions of mental and emotional well-being into the broader discourse on dementia. Ms. Madhuri Sarda, Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Hypnotherapist and Founder, Annantaa, and Vidhi Bansal, Co-Founder and Psychotherapist, Annantaa, are emphasising the significance of taking cognitive and behavioural changes seriously and seeking timely professional assistance.
Although memory loss remains one of the most familiar manifestations of dementia, the condition encompasses a considerably wider spectrum of cognitive and functional difficulties. Repeatedly asking the same questions, forgetting recently acquired information, struggling to retrieve familiar words, losing track of dates or appointments, experiencing difficulty with accustomed tasks, becoming disoriented in familiar surroundings, and encountering problems with planning or decision-making may constitute early warning signs. Alterations in judgement, personality or behaviour, as well as withdrawal from customary social or recreational activities, may also warrant attention.
An occasional lapse of memory, however, does not necessarily indicate dementia. Greater vigilance becomes warranted when such changes are persistent, progressively worsening or sufficiently pronounced to interfere with everyday responsibilities, communication, occupational functioning or social relationships.
Dementia is an umbrella term encompassing a range of conditions that impair memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to navigate everyday life. Alzheimer’s disease remains the most common cause, alongside other forms including vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 57 million people worldwide were living with dementia in 2021. The prevalence rises markedly with advancing age, particularly after 65, although chronological age alone does not determine whether an individual will develop dementia.
The growing ageing population is expected to further amplify the global burden of dementia, making early recognition increasingly consequential. Beyond its impact on independence and communication, dementia can exert substantial emotional, social and financial pressures on families and caregivers.
In India, a nationwide analysis based on the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) estimated that 7.4% of people aged 60 years and above live with dementia, corresponding to approximately 8.8 million individuals. The prevalence varies according to age, educational attainment, sex, urban-rural residence and geographical region.
The figures concerning West Bengal further illuminate the importance of examining dementia through a regional lens. The same national analysis estimated dementia prevalence among people aged 60 and above in West Bengal at 9.23%, compared with the 7.43% national estimate in its state-level analysis. This figure pertains to dementia as a whole and does not specifically represent Alzheimer’s disease. Earlier population-based studies conducted in Kolkata reported comparatively lower prevalence figures, including 0.79% among individuals aged 60 and above and 1.3% among those aged 50 and above. However, these studies were conducted during different periods and employed differing populations and diagnostic methodologies; therefore, their findings cannot be directly juxtaposed with newer national and state-level estimates.
While advancing age remains the strongest known risk factor, dementia is not exclusively an affliction of later life. Individuals below the age of 65 can also develop young-onset or early-onset dementia. In younger adults, the initial manifestations may be particularly elusive, with changes in personality, behaviour, language, concentration, planning or decision-making sometimes emerging before conspicuous memory impairment. Such symptoms may consequently be mistaken for stress, professional burnout or other psychological difficulties.
The underlying causes may vary and can include Alzheimer’s disease, vascular disease, neurological or genetic conditions, as well as health conditions such as diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease that may heighten the risk of vascular dementia.
Speaking on the significance of early diagnosis, Ms. Madhuri Sarda, Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Hypnotherapist and Founder, Annantaa, said, “A diagnosis does not define a person; it gives a family clarity about what they are facing. When cognitive or behavioural changes are noticed early and evaluated appropriately, families have greater opportunity to understand the condition, make informed decisions and prepare emotionally and practically for what lies ahead. We need to move away from dismissing persistent cognitive changes as simply ‘old age’ and create an environment where seeking help becomes a normal and informed step.”
This year’s campaign places diagnosis at the heart of the conversation because understanding what is happening can empower individuals and families to respond with greater preparedness. A timely assessment may help clinicians identify or rule out other potentially treatable causes of cognitive changes and provide a clearer understanding of the underlying condition.
Early diagnosis can also provide individuals with valuable time to participate in decisions concerning their future, plan care and finances, consider necessary lifestyle and safety adaptations, explore available treatments and support systems, and prepare families and caregivers. Although Alzheimer’s disease remains a progressive condition for which there is currently no cure, timely diagnosis can contribute to symptom management, preservation of quality of life and access to appropriate care and support.
Research has further indicated that Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain may commence years before noticeable symptoms become apparent, reinforcing the significance of awareness, observation and timely professional assessment.
The imperative for greater awareness is heightened by the stigma surrounding dementia and the widespread misconception that cognitive decline is simply an unavoidable consequence of ageing. Dementia is not an inevitable component of growing older, and persistent changes in memory, language, behaviour or everyday functioning—regardless of age—deserve thoughtful attention.
On World Alzheimer’s Day, Annantaa is encouraging individuals and families to recognise concerning changes, seek appropriate professional evaluation and approach dementia with greater understanding, compassion and empathy. In the quiet recognition of a change, there can be the beginning of clarity, preparedness and meaningful support—because the earlier you know, the more you can do.
About Annantaa
Annantaa is a mental-health and wellness organisation committed to advancing psychological well-being through awareness programmes, counselling services, therapeutic interventions and community-engagement initiatives. Through its diverse programmes and outreach activities, Annantaa continues to cultivate spaces that encourage greater understanding, emotional resilience and holistic mental wellness.
