A Survey on Knowledge and Attitude of Alzheimer’s Disease among General Population of Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder developed by cognitive and memory deterioration, progressive impairment of activities of daily living and a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms and behavioral disturbances. It is the most common cause of dementia occurring mostly in patients over 45 years. The main objective of this study was to find out the level of knowledge, their perception of sign and symptoms and risk factors. In this study, data was collected from 406 mass people. Majority of them was graduate and a little portion was illiterate. In spite of having proper education, about 52% of them had no knowledge about Alzheimer’s disease even 69% did not have any idea about stages of Alzheimer’s disease. This may be due to their ignorance in health knowledge. Moreover, 31% has family history, only 37% knew who had AD and most of them (55%) had relation with affected person but they were not a first degree relative. 81% participants were concerned about getting Alzheimer’s disease in future. Those who know about Alzheimer’s disease do not have correct knowledge about the sign and symptoms, risk factors and protective factors of Alzheimer’s disease. Among 406 people, 35 % said that prescription drugs are available that can prevent Alzheimer’s disease which statement is false. Overall findings suggest that the sign and symptoms, risk factors, protective factors among mass people concerning Alzheimer’s disease were relatively poor and needs to be improved. So, some steps should be taken with the help of professionals to make them aware of this neurodegenerative disorder.