Under the auspices of the Nordic Dementia Network, there are three thematic networks that share and develop knowledge. The thematic networks bring together researchers, leading practitioners and other experts within their respective fields of expertise.
During the 2024–2026 term, there are three thematic networks:
- Dementia and ethnic minorities
- Dementia and indigenous peoples
- Intellectual disability
Temanetværkenes formål er at fremme udviklingen af viden inden for særlige temaer og dermed bidrage til god og ligeværdig demensbehandling i de nordiske lande. Temanetværkene bidrager desuden til hovednetværkets strategiske arbejde.
Dementia and ethnic minorities
Dementia and ethnic minorities in the Nordic region is an area where more research is needed. People from non-Nordic backgrounds are likely to be at just as great a risk of developing dementia as those born in the Nordic region, but fewer seek care. International research shows that ethnic and cultural background plays a major role in the type of care people seek.
Dementia and indigenous peoples
Research from countries such as Canada, the USA and Australia shows that indigenous peoples around the world are far more vulnerable to dementia than the rest of the population in the majority societies in which they live. The overall understanding of the experiences of Sámi and Inuit people living with dementia is very limited and needs to be expanded in order to develop health and care services that take linguistic and cultural backgrounds into account.
Dementia and people with intellectual disabilities
People with intellectual disabilities in the Nordic countries are living longer. For some people with intellectual disabilities, the first symptoms of dementia may appear as early as their 40s or 50s, but they can be difficult to detect. Symptoms that often appear later in the course of the disease in other people may appear early in people with an intellectual disability. People with Down’s syndrome are at high risk of developing dementia.
