Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2025
09:17
Using Retinal Imaging to Study Dementia
Published on: November 6, 2017
21.7K
Advocating for a dementia-inclusive visual communication
Pei Soo Ang1, Siang Lee Yeo1, Leela Koran1
137447Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Dementia (London, England)
|February 10, 2023
Summary
Public images of dementia often perpetuate stigma by portraying it as loss and deficit. Promoting a dementia-inclusive society requires mindful visual communication strategies that balance representation with empathy.
Area of Science:
- Visual Communication Studies
- Disability Studies
- Sociology of Health
Background:
- Existing public images of dementia often employ stigmatizing visual communication strategies.
- These depictions can influence societal interpretations and perceptions of dementia.
- There is a need for visual communication that fosters a dementia-inclusive society.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze visual communication strategies in public domain images of dementia.
- To inform the development of dementia-inclusive visual communication.
- To advocate for visual depictions that cultivate a more inclusive society.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 432 images from Malaysian newspapers and health organizations using the Visual Discourses of Disability (ViDD) framework.
- The ViDD framework assesses images along 'perspectivizing-personizing' and 'enabling-disabling' continua.
- Findings were validated through group interviews with representatives from the Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia.
Main Results:
- Predominance of stigmatized images portraying dementia as loss and deficit, often using generic stock photos and focusing on hands or abstract concepts like puzzle pieces.
- While 'perspectivizing' images aid public education, 'personizing' images showing individuals are ideal but may require stock images for privacy.
- Both positive and 'disabling' (realistic) depictions are valuable for empathy and education.
Conclusions:
- Organizations must carefully consider visual elements evoking empowerment, advocacy, handicapping, and 'othering' when selecting dementia images.
- Decisions on image use should align with publication goals and audience impact.
- Promoting dementia-inclusive visual communication requires deliberate strategic choices.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Dementia
151
Dementia is a collective term for cognitive disorders primarily affecting memory, thinking, and reasoning. It is not a specific disease but a syndrome, with Alzheimer's disease being the most common cause, accounting for approximately 60-80% of cases. Other types include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. Dementia affects millions worldwide, particularly older adults, though it is not a normal part of aging.
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
The progression of dementia is generally gradual....
151
01:12Visual Agnosia
265
Visual agnosia is a condition characterized by the inability to recognize visually presented objects despite having normal vision. For instance, a person with visual agnosia can describe the shape and color of an object but cannot identify or name it. This impairment does not affect their visual field, acuity, color vision, brightness discrimination, language, or memory. An example of this condition in a social setting is someone at a dinner party asking for "that silver thing with a round...
265
01:29Intellectual Disability
136
Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
136
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
594
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ...
594
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
192
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
192
01:26Visual System
639
Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
639