'Memory clinics' turning back 'silver tsunami' of dementia

Post-diagnosis, patients return for customized rehabilitation — from memory games to resistance training.

Wang Yang, an associate professor at Peking University's China Center for Health Development Studies, said stable communities with established family doctor systems are ideal testing grounds. They transform primary care resources into measurable health gains.

The approach calms needless fears, like those experienced by Qian. "I'd stare at my door, unsure if I'd locked it," she recalled. Xuanwu Hospital's assessments revealed Qian was undergoing normal aging — a critical distinction.

"Many people panic over occasional forgetfulness. Communities should recognize true warning signs, which are symptoms like getting lost in familiar areas, or struggling with basic math," said Wang Hong, a professional caregiver who has worked to help Alzheimer patients for nearly two decades.

"We prescribe 'homework' (such as) daily mind-body exercises tracked through WeChat group chats, and they really work," Wang said, adding that family support also plays an important role in a patient's condition.