Alzheimer's Care Armenia Expands Dementia Services Across Country
How Alzheimer’s Care Armenia is transforming dementia care
Alzheimer's Care Armenia, founded by gerontologist Dr. Jane Mahakian in 2018, is working to shift how dementia is understood and treated in Armenia, where memory loss has traditionally been dismissed as normal aging. The organization launched the Brain Health Armenia Project in 2023, screening over 4,300 older adults and training primary care physicians to identify early cognitive impairment. About 31% of those screened showed signs of mild cognitive impairment.
The organization operates 11 Memory and Support Cafés nationwide, providing cognitive exercises, art and music therapy, and social activities for seniors experiencing memory loss. The program has expanded beyond Yerevan to regional cities like Gyumri and serves elderly people displaced from Artsakh. Alzheimer's Care Armenia also provides home-based assessments and remote consultations to reach patients in rural areas with limited specialist access.
