Illness often misdiagnosed in elderly

Only one in five dementia patients in China are correctly diagnosed, according to the China Association for Alzheimer's disease.

"China is heavily affected by Alzheimer's disease, as the population is aging," said Wang Luning, chairwoman of the association. "Many people, including some doctors, have a false perception about the disease, and this is a major reason why diagnosis and treatment rates of Alzheimer's disease is very low."

Zhang Zhenxin, a professor specializing in dementia at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said many people in China have misconceptions about dementia and believe it is a natural result of aging.