Visualising dementia in news media: reinforcing ageing, dependency and stigma

Media coverage shapes public perceptions of dementia. However, visual representation remains unexplored. This study examines how dementia is portrayed in Finnish news media.

Visual thematic analysis with quantification was conducted on 255 images published between 2018 and 2021 in Finland's four most-read national tabloids.

Media portrayals were predominantly negative and stereotypical, emphasising ageing, dependency and anxiety. People with dementia were mainly depicted as older, with grey hair, wrinkled hands and as individuals in need of assistance. Representations lacked diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity and experiences of dementia in daily life.

Newspaper images often reinforce stigmatising views of dementia by depicting dementia exclusively as ageing and dependency. Media should use more diverse and accurate visuals to reduce stigma and promote a more inclusive and realistic understanding of dementia.