Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 24: With India’s ageing population contributing to a growing burden of dementia, doctors have stressed the importance of detecting Alzheimer’s disease at an early stage as new disease-modifying treatments become available.
An estimated 8.8 million Indians aged over 60 are living with dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for nearly two-thirds of cases.
The treatment landscape changed this year with the availability of lecanemab, marketed as LEQEMBI, following its approval by India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation. Unlike conventional medicines that mainly manage symptoms, lecanemab is designed to target the biological processes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Dr Madhukar Bharadwaj, Director and HOD of Neurology at Aakash Healthcare, said the availability of lecanemab has changed discussions with families about slowing the progression of the disease. He said the treatment is an option only for patients who are identified early enough.
Lecanemab is intended for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, including those with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. Doctors must also establish the presence of amyloid pathology through cerebrospinal fluid analysis or blood-based biomarkers before treatment.
Bharadwaj said the development has increased the importance of seeking medical advice for early memory problems rather than following a prolonged “wait and watch” approach.
Dr Neha Kapoor, Associate Director and HOD of Neurology at Asian Hospital, said lack of awareness and limited geographical access remain major challenges. Many people consider memory decline a normal part of ageing and seek medical help only after the condition has progressed, she said.
Dr Rajas Deshpande, Consultant and Director of Neurology at Jupiter Hospital, said the infrastructure required for lecanemab treatment, including cerebrospinal fluid testing, PET imaging and MRI monitoring, is currently concentrated in a limited number of major Indian cities.
He said early intervention can become difficult when patients are unable to access diagnostic facilities before their condition progresses beyond the stage at which the treatment may be considered.
Doctors also stressed the need to address other health concerns associated with ageing alongside cognitive health. Dr Vineet Malhotra, Senior Consultant in Urology and Andrology at VNA Hospital, highlighted links between vascular health, hormonal balance, diabetes, brain health and sexual health in ageing men.
He said patients rarely discuss these issues together, while doctors may not always ask about them, highlighting the need for greater openness around less-discussed symptoms.
Specialists said improving dementia outcomes would require community-level cognitive screening, training for primary-care teams to identify early warning signs, stronger referral networks and sustained awareness campaigns, particularly in regional languages and underserved areas.