Public perspectives on dementia: a Malaysian study on knowledge and attitudes

Dementia is a leading cause of disability among older adults and has placed increasing caregiving demands on families and communities, including in Malaysia. While understanding and beliefs about dementia play a crucial role in the quality of care, research on this issue in Malaysia remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes towards dementia among the general population of Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among general population of Malaysia from June to July 2023 using an online self-administered questionnaire. Convenience sampling method was used to recruit the participants. The questionnaire was validated by experts, and it comprised sections on sociodemographic, knowledge, and attitudes towards dementia. Simple and multiple linear regression were performed. A total of 290 participants responded. Our participants demonstrated limited knowledge of dementia (mean score 15.78) but generally positive attitudes (mean score 54.97). Knowledge was significantly associated with several sociodemographic factors, whereas attitudes were mainly associated with ethnicity and personal dementia experience. Our study highlights gaps in dementia knowledge despite generally positive attitudes. Future research should include more diverse populations to enhance generalizability and integrate factors such as cultural beliefs, health literacy, media influence, the role of policy and health system support in shaping knowledge and attitudes toward dementia.