Mapping dementia research in Indonesia: A scoping review of evidence, gaps, and future directions

PLOS Glob Public Health. 2026 Mar 9;6(3):e0005444. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0005444. eCollection 2026.

ABSTRACT

Dementia, a syndrome that progressively impairs cognitive functions, is a growing global health challenge. Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, faces a growing dementia burden compounded by stigma and inequities in prevention, diagnosis, and care. This scoping review aims to synthesise dementia research in Indonesia, identify gaps, and propose directions for future research. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search across eight databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Global Health, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, and GARUDA) were conducted to identify studies in English and Indonesian. 105 studies were included, with most (93.3%) studies published after 2016, aligning with Indonesia’s National Dementia Plan and the WHO Global Action Plan on Dementia. Studies were predominantly cross-sectional (73.3%) and concentrated in urban areas. When mapped against the WHO Global Action Plan on Dementia (2017-2025), studies clustered around seven key themes. Key risk factors examined included older age, low education, female sex, low socioeconomic status, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and physical inactivity. Work on diagnosis, treatment, and care has expanded, particularly through validation of cognitive screening tools (e.g., MoCA-INA, BCSB-INA) and emerging use of neuroimaging and biomarkers, though implementation remains limited by cost and workforce capacity. Intervention studies are typically small-scale, short-term, and lack longitudinal evaluation. Findings consistently showed high psychosocial and financial burden, especially among female family carers, with unmet needs for training and emotional support. Finally, policy and systems-level research highlighted limited integration of dementia into primary healthcare, inadequate data infrastructure, and minimal progress in translating the 2016 National Dementia Plan into sustainable support systems. Dementia research in Indonesia has expanded, yet geographical and methodological gaps persist. Future priorities should include nationally representative studies, implementation research, and multisectoral collaborations to advance the WHO’s vision of dementia as a public health priority and strengthen preparedness for its ageing population.

PMID:41801879 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pgph.0005444