Knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease and associated factors among adults in Zhuhai, China: a cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background This study aimed to assess the public knowledge regarding Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in Zhuhai, China, focusing on identifying knowledge gaps and the influence of demographic and health factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Zhuhai, China, from October to November 2022. A total of 1986 residents from 18 communities were selected employing stratified multi-stage equi-proportional sampling. Questionnaires covering general information and the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) were investigated face-to-face. Ordinal multiclass logistic regression was applied to assess the relationship between AD awareness and demographic and health characteristics. Results The average ADKS score was 18.5 (SD = 3.36) in Zhuhai. The lowest awareness rates were observed in the “Symptoms” and “Caregiving” subdomains of ADKS, with rates of 51.01% and 43.78%, respectively. The correct rates for the 30 ADKS questions ranged from 16.62 to 92.6%, showing a bimodal pattern with clusters around 80% and 20%. Women (OR = 1.203, 95% CI: 1.009–1.435), individuals aged 60 years or older (OR = 2.073, 95% CI: 1.467–2.932), those living in urban areas (OR = 1.361, 95% CI: 1.117–1.662), higher average monthly household income per capita (OR = 1.641, 95% CI: 1.297–2.082), and without any neurological or mental disorders (OR = 1.810, 95% CI: 1.323–2.478) were more likely to have higher levels of awareness about Alzheimer’s disease. Conclusions Adults in Zhuhai show a limited knowledge of AD, particularly in the ‘Symptoms’ and ‘Caregiving’ subdomains. Upcoming health campaigns must focus on bridging the knowledge gaps in different subdomains of AD, especially among subgroups with lower awareness, as identified in our study.