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Lara Dutta Highlights The Hidden Burden Of Alzheimer's Care
Alzheimer's is more than a problem with forgetting things.
Over time, a person may need help with everyday tasks such as brushing, shaving and using the bathroom.
Family members often provide this help without being paid.
Lara Dutta says caring for her mother has been very difficult for the whole family.
Caregivers can feel tired, worried, lonely and financially stressed.
Dutta says families need patience and should treat people with dignity.
She also wants communities to stop judging families affected by dementia.
Doctors say recognizing the disease early can help families plan better care.
Lara Dutta says caring for her mother, who has lived with Alzheimer's for more than a decade, is physically and mentally exhausting.
Doctors say Alzheimer's can make patients dependent on others for daily activities, communication and independent living.
A 2025 analysis found that heavier caregiving responsibilities were linked to greater stress, poorer mental health and lower well-being.
Dutta and doctors called for more awareness, community support and conversations that reduce stigma around dementia.
Doctors said early identification can help families plan care as Alzheimer's progresses through different stages.
- Who
- Lara Dutta, her mother Jennifer Maureen Dutta, caregivers and neurologists including Dr. Vinit Banga and Dr. Sahil Kohli.
- What
- The article examines the physical, emotional, social and financial burden of caring for people with Alzheimer's disease.
- Where
- India, including the communities and families caring for people with dementia.
- When
- Jennifer Maureen Dutta has lived with Alzheimer's for more than a decade; a cited caregiver analysis was published in 2025.
- Why
- Alzheimer's can make patients dependent on others, while stigma and limited awareness can leave caregivers without enough support.
Key facts
- Estimated dementia patients in India
- 8.8 million, according to conservative estimates cited in the article.
- Estimated Alzheimer's share
- Doctors say nearly 70% of recorded dementia cases are Alzheimer's cases.
- Lara Dutta's family experience
- Her mother, Jennifer Maureen Dutta, has lived with Alzheimer's for more than a decade.
- Caregiver effects
- Caregivers may experience physical, emotional, social and financial burdens.
- 2025 research finding
- Greater caregiving responsibility was associated with higher stress, poorer mental health and lower positive well-being.
- Disease stages
- Dr. Sahil Kohli describes pre-clinical, middle and advanced stages.
- Recommended response
- The article emphasizes early help, dignity, community support and reduced stigma.
Quotes
Lara Dutta
Actor and former Miss Universe discussing her mother's Alzheimer's care
“I think the need of the hour today is really to normalize conversations about anxieties and dementia and not treat it as just a disease that's about forgetfulness.”
NDTV
“So you need to have a community that's not judging you, that is supportive of what you're doing.”
NDTV
Sources
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