"If one person has dementia, the whole family will be devastated." Liu Jianguo called for the research results to be brought into the family and community

The "Dementia Research Office" of the National Center for Aging Medicine and Health and Welfare Research of the National Institutes of Health was inaugurated today (19th). As a dedicated promotion window for promoting dementia research and innovative development, Liu Jianguo, a candidate for Yunlin County magistrate of the Democratic Progressive Party and a legislator, attended the event and said sincerely, "If one person has dementia, the whole family will lose their will." Government research results should be introduced into families and communities to create a more complete, accurate and dignified protection network for dementia patients and families.

According to a survey by the National Institute of Health, the prevalence of dementia in Taiwan over the age of 65 is 8%, doubling for every five years, and the chance of dementia for 90-year-olds is as high as 1 in 3. Currently, there are about 400,000 people with dementia in Taiwan, and it is expected that the number will double in 20 years. In the face of rapidly rising care and medical needs, dementia prevention and care has been upgraded to an important national issue.

Liu Jianguo pointed out that the National Research Center on Aging was launched on May 1 this year, and the "2026 International Symposium on Healthy Aging and Community Resilience" was held on October 16 and 17, inviting experts from Japan, the United States, Canada, France, Australia, Singapore and other countries to exchange experiences on elderly care, long-term care and community support. Now that the Dementia Research Office has been established, it shows that the functions of the research center continue to deepen the integration of professional research and care.

Liu Jianguo said that when he first sought to locate the research center in Yunlin, he not only wanted to add another building, but also wanted to connect the national research capacity, clinical care and local care experience so that Yunlin, where the challenges of aging emerged earlier, would also have the opportunity to become an important base for proposing care solutions.

Liu Jianguo emphasized that "one person has dementia and the whole family is depressed." Prevention is better than cure. The government should invest more resources in front-end prevention and early identification, and at the same time supplement medical services, community support and caregiver assistance, so that people do not have to wait until the care pressure is unbearable before they start to seek resources. He hopes that the Office of Dementia Research will work together through industry, government, academia and research to create a healthy Taiwan that can be modeled around the world.