Gwangju Seo-gu Offers Free Dementia Screening for Residents Aged 60 and Over

Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Ikang) announced on the 22nd that it will conduct dementia screening tests for Seo-gu residents aged 60 and over this year, following last year.

Seo-gu supports the cost of differential diagnosis tests, including blood tests and CT scans, up to a limit of 80,000 KRW without income restrictions, so that residents do not delay dementia screening due to financial burdens.

A resident is undergoing a dementia screening test.
[Photo by Seogu]

Residents who require differential diagnosis for the cause of dementia based on the diagnostic test results from the Seo-gu Dementia Safety Center can receive dementia differential diagnosis tests at seven affiliated hospitals in the district (Gwangju Hanguk Hospital, Miraero 21 Hospital, Seogwang Hospital, Mujigae Hospital, Son Euiju Neurology, Happy View Clinic, Heo Uk Neurology) after prior inquiry at the Dementia Safety Center.

Until 2022, Seo-gu provided free screening and diagnostic tests as part of the three-step dementia testing process (screening-diagnosis-differential diagnosis), and since last year, it has supported the costs of differential diagnosis tests as well, achieving early detection of 184 dementia patients last year.

Heo Seongja, director of the Seo-gu Dementia Safety Center, said, “With the annual increase in the elderly population, the prevalence of dementia and the estimated number of dementia patients are also rising. The district will establish a dementia prevention system and implement various support projects so that residents can detect dementia early and receive treatment.”

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Shin Dongho baekok@asiae.co.kr