Kashmir is forgetting and no one is ready

Srinagar, Dec 31: A quiet demographic storm is brewing in J&K.

As the youth population shrinks and the elderly population swells, while the plummeting fertility rates do further snipping of the families, the specter of dementia is casting a longer shadow than ever before.

J&K faces India’s highest dementia prevalence at 11.04 percent, which means one in every nine among those over 60 years of age has dementia.

Lakhs and lakhs of people will need special assistance from families and the system.

WHAT IS DEMENTIA?

A forgetful parent, who till recently was at the steering wheel of the household, needs assistance for traversing the house.

At times, they need introduction and reintroduction to family members, and forget where they kept their medicines, glasses, or keys.

Neighbours describe them as having a lost demeanor, “not their real self”.

They are restricted by their families from moving out without being escorted.

Life suddenly takes a sharp turn for everyone in the house. This is a form of dementia.

Dementia is a broad term for conditions that affect memory, thinking, behaviour, and the ability to carry out everyday activities.

It is most common in older adults, mostly considered a normal part of aging.

However, it is not.

People with dementia can have difficulty remembering recent events, solving problems, communicating clearly, or recognising familiar people and places.

The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease, although there are other types as well.

There is no cure for dementia currently.

Treatments, support, and healthy lifestyle habits can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

It can also alleviate the burden for families having a member with dementia.

DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS FUELING SURGE

The elevated rates of dementia have been confirmed by the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) released at the beginning of 2025.

It signals a public health emergency.

J&K’s elderly population is increasing.

As per Census 2011, J&K’s 0-14 year age group population was approximately 27 percent of the total, which dropped to 20.6 percent as per SRS 2019.

The low total fertility rate (TFR), the lowest in India (1.4), means the young population is set to shrink.

Late marriages further decrease the number of children per family.

And the longer life span in J&K, among the highest in India, will further increase the elderly population.

High incidence of diabetes and hypertension further heightens dementia onset.

Experts warn that without urgent interventions, J&K could face an unprecedented healthcare crisis.

Families currently grapple with caring for aging parents and grandparents with fewer helping hands.

It will worsen with a smaller number of young ones in families, and more aged ones.

HIGHER THAN NATIONAL, GLOBAL NORMS?

J&K’s 11 percent plus dementia rate exceeds other states – Punjab 5.19 percent, Haryana 5.78 percent, and Kerala 10.6 percent.

The situation that prevailed over J&K over the past few decades and the socio-economic scenario could also be affecting it.

However, there are no solid, citable causes of the higher prevalence, nor are these readily available in medical literature from J&K.

LIMITED INFRASTRUCTURE TO ADDRESS BURDEN

Kashmir lacks a dementia care setup.

The awareness of dementia is rudimentary.

A 2025 CME at GMC Srinagar was perhaps among the first awareness events.

No screening or specialised care clinics have been set up.

The caregiver family members are often on their own, with no support, taking a toll on their livelihoods and physical and mental health.

Young caregivers juggle jobs and dual dependencies.

Burnout without policy and social intervention is a reality that many live with.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT

Experts believe J&K must adopt a proactive, multi-layered strategy focused on integration, decentralisation, and cultural sensitivity.

Dementia-specific screening, early diagnosis, and management must be integrated into the existing National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE) and the National Mental Health Programme, while training human resources in healthcare facilities for meaningful evaluation and intervention.

The district-level geriatric and palliative care facilities need to be planned and executed.

Awareness campaigns must address stigma and cognitive impacts from decades of violence.

Local support groups, caregiver training programs, and helplines must be worked on by civil society.

Policy-wise, J&K needs to push for a state-specific dementia action plan.

A registry for monitoring cases and incentives for private-public partnerships in day-care could help in addressing the caregiver burden.

In addition, risk reduction through better management of hypertension, diabetes, and mental health could help in bringing the numbers down in the future.