Cultural, Clinical, and Sociolinguistic Considerations in the Neurocognitive Assessment and Care in Arabic-speaking Patients with Dementia

Abstract

Recent research from many Arabic-speaking countries indicates that the aging population is more prone to certain neurodegenerative diseases. This increased vulnerability implies exploring the specific needs and challenges faced by individuals with dementia within these communities. Neurocognitive interventions and assessment-based protocols for dementia have recently shifted from a disease-centered approach to a person-centered care model, which recognizes people with dementia as psychosocial individuals who live and interact in a particular sociocultural and linguistic context. This shifting paradigm embraces a more holistic approach, acknowledging the significant impact of their psychosocial functioning as well as their experience of the disease. In this context, we provide an overview of dementia in Arabic-speaking people with Alzheimer’s disease, with a focus on sociolinguistic and sociocultural profiles. We detail the cultural aspects that should be incorporated into cognitive testing and care for their home or host countries if they are migrants. We discuss the limits of diagnosis, neurocognitive testing, and therapeutic interventions in this context. We formulate a set of recommendations for clinicians dealing with neurocognitive disorders, related to the acculturation and diglossic differences between the dialect spoken by the clinician and the client. However, limited access to interpreters and the lack of adapted resources can reveal deeper issues which require systemic solutions. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of cultural differences in language, culture, and country of origin. Many so-called “ethnic, translinguistic, and diglossic misunderstandings” are linked to poor linguistic comprehension, language barriers, and illiteracy.