Dementia cases are rising faster across the Middle East and Africa than anywhere else in the world, yet rehabilitation remains the missing link in care. The latest report, by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), warns that without urgent action, millions will be left without the support they need to live with dignity and independence for longer. 

“Rehabilitation is not an optional add-on, it is a right,” said Paola Barbarino, Chief Executive of ADI. “When you are diagnosed with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, treatment and rehabilitation are provided as a matter of course. Why should dementia be treated differently? People living with dementia deserve the same opportunity for support and recovery as anyone facing a major health condition.”

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Dementia rehabilitation is a person-centred, collaborative approach to care that enables people to maintain or rebuild everyday skills, from making tea and shopping independently to mobility, speech, hygiene and self-care. By focusing on what matters most to the person, rehabilitation helps people remain independent, stay connected with their communities and workplaces, and reduce strain on families and health services.

Only around a quarter of WHO Member States have a national dementia plan, and of those, just over half mention rehabilitation. With the largest increases in dementia prevalence forecast in the Middle East, North Africa and eastern sub-Saharan Africa, ADI argues rehabilitation must become a standard part of care to improve quality of life and reduce economic strain.

The report, Reimagining life with dementia – the power of rehabilitation (available for download here), highlights a striking example from Togo, where dementia cases are projected to increase by 354% between 2019 and 2050. The Ahonhon Cognitive Rehabilitation programme in Lomé is one of the few structured initiatives for cognitive decline in the region. By using memory strategies, goal-setting, and strong family involvement, the programme has helped people regain independence in daily tasks, while families report relief and renewed confidence in caregiving.

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Yet access to rehabilitation across the region remains minimal. Few services are equipped to support people with dementia, trained staff are scarce, and limited professional education means most programmes cannot scale. Poor access to transportation and geographic barriers add further challenges, particularly for rural families. The report highlights that community-based models, home-based rehabilitation, and the use of digital tools could all provide low-cost and practical ways to expand access.

The economic case is compelling

With global dementia costs projected to reach 2.8 trillion USD annually by 2030, rehabilitation can bring about helpful savings for health systems and families, especially in regions where informal caregiving already accounts for around half of the total global cost of dementia.

ADI is calling on governments across Africa and the Middle East, as they invest heavily in hospitals and healthcare infrastructure, to embed rehabilitation in their dementia strategies, invest in training health professionals, and equip families with the tools they need to support loved ones. It also urges clinicians to make rehabilitation a routine part of post-diagnostic care.

“Rehabilitation restores a sense of identity and purpose,” Barbarino added. “Even the smallest gains can transform lives. Too often, we hear that clinicians will tell someone newly diagnosed with dementia to ‘go home and get your end-of-life affairs in order.’ But people can live well with a diagnosis for many years with the correct support in place, and rehabilitation can facilitate this. ADI is demanding that healthcare systems proactively offer rehabilitation for dementia, as they would for any other condition like respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. It is time to make rehabilitation a routine part of all dementia care.”