The program Reporting Paths this Monday (23) “When forgetfulness arrives: Alzheimer’s and other dementias” analyzes the progress of diagnoses in the country, the causes, current stages of treatments and the importance of care. The journalistic attraction will air at 11pm, on TV Brasilpublic broadcaster of Brazilian Communication Company (EBC).
According to data from the Ministry of Health, around 2 million Brazilians have Alzheimer’s. The forecast is that this population will triple by the year 2050. Although Alzheimer’s is the best-known dementia, there are more than 100 types of the disease.
“Dementia is not contaminating or being transmitted between people. Dementia is increasing because the population is aging”, explains the head of Geriatrics at the University Hospital of Brasília, Marco Polo.
The production also interviewed geriatrician Otávio Castello. He highlights the importance of early diagnosis so that people can plan in advance.
“Of course, this has to be done in a nice, loving and welcoming way. But it needs to be done”, he advises.
This is the case of Jorge Noronha, who learned he had Alzheimer’s at the age of 55. The diagnosis was made by his own brother, geriatrician Flávio Noronha.
“My brother and I were talking about his car. The conversation was coherent, but at a certain point it started to become childish. He looked like a boy of 11 or 12 years old. That caught my attention and I said: something is wrong. We did a blood test, a CT scan, an MRI and we came up with Alzheimer’s disease”, recalls the doctor.
Currently, Jorge receives care ranging from speech therapist to hygiene.
“We will always know who Jorge is, but there will come a time when he won’t know who we are. And we have to be emotionally prepared for that”, says pedagogue Karla Viana, Jorge’s sister-in-law.
Doctors have already discovered that intellectual, social and, mainly, physical activities are allies in this battle.
“Sometimes people ask me and this has even become anecdotal: ‘Which exercise do I do: crossword or word search?’ Do physical exercise”, advises Marco Polo. “If a person wants to have a healthy old age, they need to feel useful”, adds Otávio Castello.
Other characteristics of the disease are still being studied.
“Loss of strength, loss of appetite, slowing of gait. This type of symptom has also been associated with the early onset of dementia”, says the president of the Brazilian Alzheimer’s Association in the Federal District (ABRAz-DF), Juliana Martins Pinto.
The national secretary for the Rights of the Elderly, Alexandre da Silva, also participates in the program. He reinforces that it is essential that public health policies reach everyone.
“Care needs to be appropriate for the most diverse territories. What is it like to treat people with dementia who live in rural regions, in slums, in tenements? All of this demands various forms of care from society”, he recalls.
About the program
On air since 2008, the Reporting Paths It is one of the most prestigious Brazilian journalistic productions among the public and critics. At the end of 2025, the TV Brasil program surpassed the mark of 100 awards received.
Since 2010, when the count began, there have been 101 honors. The recognitions attest to the editorial relevance, journalistic quality and the team’s commitment to in-depth reporting on the most varied topics of public interest.
Aired on Mondays at 11pm, the Reporting Paths There is an alternative time in the early hours of Tuesday, at 2:30 am. The production makes special editions available on website of the program and in Broadcaster’s YouTube. Previous articles are also on the app TV Brasil Playavailable in Android and iOS versions, and in website http://tvbrasilplay.com.br.
