Volume : 13, Issue : 08, August – 2026

Title:

COGNITIVE IMPAIREMENT AND DEMENTIA SCREENING AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN SAUDI ARABIA: A SYSTEMIC REVIEW

Authors :

Maryam Almumtin, MD, Abeer Muidh Alzahrani, MD, Mohammed Mahmoud Al Hadeeri, MD

Abstract :

Background: As Saudi Arabia undergoes a rapid demographic transition driven by socio-economic development and extended life expectancy, the proportion of older adults is projected to increase to 25% by 2050. This shift is accompanied by an escalating burden of neurodegenerative conditions, notably, Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. Early detection through validated, screening tools is essential for timely clinical intervention and assess allocation.
Objective: to systematically review existing literature on the prevalence, screening, methodologist, diagnostic accuracy, and risk factors associated with cooperative impairment and dementia among older adults (60 years) in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: a systematic literature search was executed across PubMed, Scopus, Web of sciences, and Google scholar following PRISMA guidelines. Studies published up to 2026, assessing cognitive screening, prevalence, rates, or associated cardio metabolic/demographic practices in Saudi Arabia, where evaluated.
Results: A total of 14 studies meeting, inclusion criteria synthesised. Prevalence of overall cognitive impairment, community dwelling older adults range from 21.0% to 45.0%, depending on screening tool, sensitivity and educational adjustments. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) prevalence varied between 17.1% and 36.6%, while primary Care dementia rates ranged from 3.8% to 16.6%. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Eight-Item Informant Interview (AD8) were the predominant tools. Major predictors of cognitive decline included advanced age, female gender, low literacy/formal education, and high cardiometabolic burden (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia).
Conclusion: Cognitive impairment is a prevalent yet substantially underdiagnosed condition in Saudi Arabia. Widespread adoption of educationally adjusted and culturally adopted screening instruments in primary healthcare is urgently required. .

Cite This Article:

Please cite this article in press Maryam Almumtin et al., Cognitive Impairment and Dementia screening among older adults in Saudi Arabia: A Systemic Review .,, Indo Am. J. P. Sci, 2026; 13(08).

REFERENCES:

1. Al-Jahdali, S., Al-Ghamdi, S., Al-Khashan, H., & Al-Hussain, F. (2018). Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia in Saudi Arabia: A Community-Based Study. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 45(5-6), 314–324.
2. Al-Qarni, A. M., Al-Zahrani, A. A., & Al-Malki, H. S. (2020). Assessing the cognitive status of older adults attending primary healthcare centers in Saudi Arabia using the Mini-Mental State Examination. Saudi Medical Journal, 41(12), 1315–1322.
3. Al-Hussain, F. A., Al-Jumaah, M. A., & Al-Muhaish, M. (2022). Prevalence of Dementia and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Geriatric Patients Visiting Primary Healthcare Centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus, 14(4), e24389.
4. Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. (2023). Ministry of Health Protocol for the Prevention and Management of Cognitive Impairment. Riyadh: MOH Publications.

5. General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). (2022). Demographic Survey of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
6. Al-Gateway, N., & Al-Badr, A. (2024). Epidemiology of Cognitive Impairments: Demographic and Clinical Predictors from National
Disability Indicators. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(18), 6390.
7. Nasreddine, Z. S., Phillips, N. A., Bédirian, V., Charbonneau, S., Whitehead, V., Collin, I., … & Chertkow, H. (2005). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA: a brief screening tool for mild cognitive impairment. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 53(4), 695–699.

8. Folstein, M. F., Folstein, S. E., & McHugh, P. R. (1975). “Mini-mental state”: a practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 12(3), 189–198.
9. Galvin, J. E., Roe, C. M., Powlishta, K. K., Coats, M. A., Muich, S. J., Grant, E. A., … & Morris, J. C. (2005). The AD8: a brief informant interview to detect dementia. Neurology, 65(4), 559–564.
10. Storey, J. E., Rowland, J. T., Conforti, D. A., & Dickson, H. G. (2004). The Rowland Universal Dementia Assessment Scale (RUDAS): a multicultural cognitive assessment scale. International Psychogeriatrics, 16(1), 13–31.