Nationwide Survey on the Awareness of Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), particularly due to Alzheimer's disease (AD), is an important stage for early intervention. We aim to assess awareness among the general population of MCI and AD, and evaluate their willingness to pay for treatment that delays the progression to dementia.

A nationwide cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted from August 29 to 31, 2022, targeting adults aged ≥18 years in the Republic of Korea. In toto, 1,006 respondents were randomly selected via a proportional allocation based on age, sex, and region. The survey consisted of 11 questions covering demographic information, awareness of MCI and AD, understanding of diagnostic procedures, such as amyloid positron emission tomography (PET), and willingness to pay for disease-modifying treatment.

Among the respondents, 41.3% had heard of MCI, but only 12.0% were well informed. Some 77.0% stated that if they experienced cognitive decline, they would visit a hospital. Only 12.4% of respondents knew the important role of amyloid PET in diagnosing MCI due to AD. Regarding the treatment costs of disease-modifying drugs, 42.1% were willing to pay <600,000 KRW (approximately 420 USD) per month, while 18.4% were unwilling to pay. Older age and lower socioeconomic status were significantly associated with decreased willingness to pay (p<0.001).

Public awareness of MCI is limited, and willingness to pay decreases with older age and lower socioeconomic status. Targeted education and strategies are therefore required to increase awareness and reduce disparities.