On April 1, 2026, Sapporo City designated Hokkaido University Hospital as the city's third dementia disease medical center. The center will provide services such as differential diagnosis and initial management of dementia, appropriate provision of the latest medical treatments, treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms and physical complications of dementia in the acute phase, specialized medical consultations, and post-diagnosis consultation support.

In addition, we will conduct training for local health, medical, and long-term care professionals to strengthen the provision of dementia care in the region. Hokkaido University Hospital will open a telephone consultation service from June 1st as part of its consultation and support services at the Dementia Disease Medical Center.

With the aging population, the number of patients with dementia and its precursor, mild cognitive impairment, is on the rise, and it is estimated that there will be approximately 11 million patients in Japan by 2025. There are various types of dementia, but Alzheimer's disease accounts for more than half of them. Since January 2024, Hokkaido University Hospital has been operating the "Mild Cognitive Impairment Center" with the aim of providing accurate diagnoses, primarily for early-stage Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment, and proposing optimal treatment methods, including new medications, and lifestyle improvements for each patient.

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