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GLOBAL
OBSERVATORY
OF LONG-TERM
CARE

Part of the International Long-Term Care Policy Network (ILPN)

 

Sara Evans-Lacko

London School of Economics and Political Science, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre

Sara Evans-Lacko

As a co-investigator on STRIDE, I led critical research on dementia-related stigma in seven LMICs, collaborating with researchers, local and global NGOs. My focus extends to measurement of stigma and discrimination including a globally validated measure for the experiences of dementia-related stigma and working together with Alzheimer’s Disease International’s on largest survey on dementia related stigma. This survey, translated into 27 languages and encompassing nearly 70,000 participants globally, informed the World Alzheimer’s Report 2019, and we are conducting a follow-up for the 2024 report. From STRiDE’s insights, we also developed a toolkit for stigma change, rooted in the lived experiences of individuals with dementia and their care partners and designed to foster behaviour change and reduce stigma. This toolkit is the product of diverse collaboration and evidence-based strategies, emphasising the empowerment of those living with dementia. With this toolkit and work, we aim to go beyond awareness raising, advocating for the rights and opportunities for people affected by dementia worldwide.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Countries Brazil; International; UK;
Topics Access to care; Care needs poverty and deprivation; Stigma and discrimination; Survey measures;
Methods Measure validation; Mixed methods; Surveys;
Role Research;
Interest Groups Quasi-experimental methods; Strengthening Responses to Dementia;
Websitehttps://www.lse.ac.uk/cpec/people/sara-evans-lacko
ORC.ID0000-0003-4691-2630
GOOGLE SCHOLARhttps://scholar.google.com/citations?user=MuhFp9EAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/saraevanslacko
LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-evans-lacko-ab96745/?originalSubdomain=uk
Research interests

stigma and discrimination
measurement
global mental health
life course
Key publications

Bhatt, J., Brohan, E., Blasco, D., Oliveira, D., Bakolis, I., Comas-Herrera, A., D’Amico, F., Farina, N., Knapp, M., Stevens, M., Thornicroft, G., Wilson, E., Salcher-Konrad, M., Yang, L. H., & Evans-Lacko, S. (2023). The development and validation of the Discrimination and Stigma Scale Ultra Short for People Living with Dementia (DISCUS-Dementia). BJPsych Open, 9(5), e164. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.551
Evans-Lacko, S., Farina, N., Ferri, C., Franzon, A. C., Godoy, C., Hurzuk, S., Jacobs, R., Mata, F., Mateus, E., Musyimi, C., Oliveira, D., Ong, E., López-Ortega, M., Surawattananon, N., & Weidner, W. (2022). Don’t forget I’m human –reducing dementia stigma. The STRiDE Anti-Stigma Toolkit. London School of Economics and Political Science. https://Stridedementia.Turtl.Co/Story/Anti-Stigma-Toolkit/Page/1.
Hurzuk, S., Farina, N., Pattabiraman, M., Ramasamy, N., Alladi, S., Rajagopalan, J., Comas-Herrera, A., Thomas, P. T., & Evans-Lacko, S. (2022). Understanding, experiences and attitudes of dementia in India: A qualitative study. Dementia, 21(7). https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012221118774
Jacobs, R., Schneider, M., Farina, N., du Toit, P., & Evans-Lacko, S. (2022). Stigma and its implications for dementia in South Africa: a multi-stakeholder exploratory study. Ageing and Society. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0144686x2200040x
Musyimi, C. W., Ndetei, D. M., Evans-Lacko, S., Oliveira, D., Mutunga, E., & Farina, N. (2021). Perceptions and experiences of dementia and its care in rural Kenya. Dementia, 20(8). https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012211014800
Oliveira, D., Da Mata, F. A. F., Mateus, E., Musyimi, C. W., Farina, N., Ferri, C. P., & Evans-Lacko, S. (2023). Experiences of stigma and discrimination among people living with dementia and family carers in Brazil: qualitative study. Ageing and Society, 43(2). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X21000660
Oliveira, D., Godoy, C., Da Mata, F. A. F., Mateus, E., Franzon, A. C. A., Farina, N., Evans-Lacko, S., & Ferri, C. P. (2022). Reducing dementia-related stigma and discrimination among community health workers in Brazil: protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial. BMJ Open, 12(7). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060033
Rajan KB, Mcaninch EA, Wilson RS, Dhana A, Evans-Lacko S, Evans DA. Statin Initiation and Risk of Incident Alzheimer Disease and Cognitive Decline in Genetically Susceptible Older Adults. Neurology. 2024 Apr 9;102(7):e209168. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000209168. Epub 2024 Mar 6. PMID: 38447103.