One-on-One Mobile Dementia Screenings at Community Centers from April to June
Yangcheon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) announced on the 4th that it will operate a ‘Mobile Dementia Screening at Community Centers’ for three months starting this month, using community centers as bases. Yangcheon-gu’s ‘Mobile Dementia Screening at Community Centers’ was established to detect high-risk dementia candidates early and provide timely, systematic treatment and management.
The screening is conducted by dementia safety center specialists and volunteers who visit local community centers to provide one-on-one examinations. Basic health consultations through visiting nurses at the community centers are also provided as a one-stop service.
If cognitive decline is suspected based on the Cognitive Impairment Screening Test (CIST) results, detailed examinations (neuropsychological tests, consultations with neurologists) are conducted. If dementia suspicion is confirmed, patients are referred to specialized medical institutions for differential tests such as blood tests and MRI scans. For low-income individuals, part of the cost for differential tests is also supported.
This mobile screening will be carried out according to the schedule of each district, starting from the Mok 4-dong Community Center on the 4th until June. The screening targets residents who have not been diagnosed with dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Residents can visit the nearest community center according to the screening schedule regardless of their registered address, bringing their ID cards.
Yangcheon-gu explained, “Through the mobile community center screenings, a total of 2,358 people were screened last year alone, with 187 people (7.9%) confirmed to have cognitive decline, contributing to the early detection of dementia among residents.”
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s dementia epidemiological and status survey, the number of dementia patients in Korea is estimated to be 970,000 by 2025, and it is expected to exceed 1 million next year. Especially, the prevalence of dementia sharply increases among those aged 75 and older, highlighting the growing importance of dementia prevention and early detection.
Meanwhile, the district supports dementia treatment and management costs for about 700 dementia patients annually to alleviate the economic burden on patients and their families. In addition, efforts are being made to help residents overcome dementia in various areas such as providing care supplies, wandering prevention services, customized case management, public dementia guardianship, cognitive programs, family support services, dementia awareness education, and programs for early-stage dementia patients. Recognizing these efforts, the district was selected as an excellent institution in the ‘2024 Seoul Dementia Management Project Evaluation.’
Mayor Lee Gi-jae said, “As dementia prevalence continues to increase due to ultra-aging, overcoming dementia has become a national task. Since early screening is a sure way to prevent dementia, I hope residents take this opportunity to visit their nearby community centers for screening.”
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