JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Understanding advocacy strategies is essential to improving dementia awareness, reducing stigma, supporting cognitive health promotion, and influencing policy to support people living with dementia. However, there is a dearth of evidence-based research on advocacy strategies used to support dementia awareness.

Objective:

This study used Tweets from X (formerly Twitter) to understand dementia advocacy strategies used during the World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in September 2022.

Methods:

Tweets were scraped from X during the World Alzheimer’s Awareness Month from September 1, 2022 to September 30, 2022. After applying filters, 1,981 relevant posts were analyzed using thematic analysis, and measures were taken to support trustworthiness and rigor.

Results:

This study revealed a variety of advocacy strategies including sharing the voices of lived experience, targeting ethnic and cultural groups, myth-busting strategies, and political lobbying. Although a range of strategies were identified, further research is needed to examine advocacy strategies within different countries and political contexts. Moreover, the impact of specific strategies on stigma reduction, cognitive health promotion, and policy change needs to be scientifically evaluated.

Conclusions:

Our study offers valuable insight on strategies to bolster dementia advocacy and awareness campaigns to support people living with dementia. Findings from our research may provide critical insight for policymakers, organizations, and health professionals working to reduce dementia-related stigma and increase the uptake of risk-reduction activities to support the promotion of cognitive health. Clinical Trial: Not applicable.