Opinion: STAT+: Dementia should be a campaign issue — not an insult

Sept. 16, 2026 Karlawish is a professor of medicine, medical ethics, health policy, and neurology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, co-director of the Penn Memory Center, and executive producer of the “Age of Aging” podcast. He writes Neurotransmissions, a STAT column about the new era of dementia. Hot summer days are fading fast, but the midterm election season is heating up. In the race up to Nov. 3, among the top issues are the economy, health care, and immigration. All three are deeply connected to another issue that needs attention: dementia. As many as 7.1 million Americans are living with dementia, and 12 million friends and family are performing the work of caregiving. Their mental anguish, out-of-pocket expenses, the time caregivers devote to their work, the wages lost from forgone work — all create spectacular costs for America’s families. In the coming years, as Americans age, this anguish and costs will only grow. Dementia is clearly a big problem, and yet, sadly, our politicians — both Democrats and Republicans — talk about it not like adults, but like schoolyard bullies. They use the word as a vicious rhetorical cudgel to mock and deride an opponent’s mental fitness. This was especially true in 2024, when politicians accused opponents of having dementia. Sadly, the name-calling continues this midterm election. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe