SHANGHAI – A groundbreaking new report from a leading Shanghai hospital has issued a stark warning about the daily dangers facing individuals with Alzheimer’s disease in China, revealing that over 73% have encountered serious safety risks. The findings, released ahead of World Alzheimer’s Day, serve as an urgent call to action for a national response to protect some of society’s most vulnerable members.

The comprehensive 2025 Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Safety Survey, conducted by Renji Hospital, paints a troubling picture based on data from over 1,000 patients and their families across 30 provinces. It highlights a crisis unfolding in homes and communities, where cognitive decline creates a minefield of potential hazards.

The risks are not only prevalent but often multiple, with more than a third of patients experiencing three or more distinct dangers. Key findings include:

- Medication Errors: Over half of the patients surveyed experienced medication errors in the past year, including forgetting doses (49.6%), refusing medication (24.7%), and taking the wrong dosage (18.7%).

- Physical Dangers: Nearly 46% of patients have suffered a fall, and over 33% have wandered off and gone missing. In the past year alone, these incidents affected 31.6% and 17.4% of patients, respectively.

- Behavioral and Domestic Risks: The report also sheds light on behavioral challenges, with 39.5% exhibiting verbal aggression and 22.4% showing physical aggression. Furthermore, significant domestic hazards were identified, including fire safety issues (12.3%), choking (10.6%), and accidental inhalation of food (6.6%).

With an estimated 17 million people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia in China, the report underscores a vast and often hidden public health challenge.

Dr. Wang Gang, head of neurology at Renji Hospital, emphasized that the current approach is insufficient. “We must move beyond ad-hoc care and establish standardized, innovative safety management models,” he stated. He advocates for integrating safety protocols directly into clinical guidelines and implementing a tiered, precision-based prevention strategy.

The report calls for a three-pronged approach to address this crisis:

1.Establish national safety standards for dementia care.

2.Provide professional, systematic training for both family and professional caregivers.

3.Build robust community support networks to create a safer environment for patients to “age in place.”

As populations around the world age, the challenges highlighted in this report resonate far beyond China’s borders. It is a powerful reminder that caring for those with cognitive decline is a societal responsibility. The findings are a clear call to build a more compassionate and secure support system, ensuring that individuals living with dementia can do so with safety, dignity, and the care they profoundly deserve.