Les maladies d’Alzheimer et apparentées (MA ² ) concernent 1,4 million de personnes en France. Cependant, ces maladies sont sous-diagnostiquées (moins de la moitié des cas) et le plus souvent tardivement (MMSE 19/30). Cela s’explique en partie par la peur des MA ²  et de leur diagnostic. Cette peur, très fréquente en population générale, est influencée par les représentations socioculturelles. Elle est sous-tendue par plusieurs déterminants : stéréotypes âgistes, stratégies d’évitement, perte d’autodétermination, perte d’identité et de rôle, caractéristiques sociodémographiques, expériences et croyances concernant les MA ² , gestion de l’incertitude, stigmatisation, facteurs émotionnels. Des leviers d’action pour les professionnels de santé intervenant auprès des malades et des aidants sont mobilisables : encourager une démarche diagnostique, favoriser un empowerment , offrir un suivi et un soutien psychosocial tout au long de la maladie, développer et accompagner des stratégies de coping et agir sur les représentations socioculturelles. Comprendre et atténuer cette peur semblent essentiels pour favoriser un diagnostic au moment opportun et de façon précoce.

Alzheimer's disease and related disorders affect 1.4 million people in France. However, these diseases are underdiagnosed (less than half of cases) and most often diagnosed late (MMSE 19/30). This diagnosis raises a number of ethical issues for the patient, their family, and healthcare professionals. It is also a socially situated experience that leads to differences in the diagnostic process and timing, depending on socio-demographic characteristics (age, education level, social isolation). Among the causes of delay and underdiagnosis we notice: insidious progression, for a long time quiet or unsettling; complex symptoms with various comorbidities due to aging; lack of available curative treatments; tolerance of family and relatives; difficulties accessing care; beliefs and perceptions about aging that lead to considering neurocognitive disorders as normal aging; and fear of an Alzheimer's diagnosis or related disorders. This fear is very common in the general population, about 74% in France or 30–60% in international studies, and influenced by socio-cultural perceptions. There are various underlyning explicative factors: ageist stereotypes, avoidance strategies, loss of self-determination, loss of identity and role, socio-demographic characteristics, experiences and beliefs about Alzheimer's disease, managing uncertainty, stigmatization, and emotional factors. Several levers for action are available for healthcare professionals working with patients and caregivers: encouraging a diagnostic process, promoting empowerment, offering follow-up and psychosocial support throughout the course of the disease, developing and supporting coping strategies, and addressing socio-cultural perceptions. Understanding and mitigating this fear seem essential to promoting timely diagnosis at the earliest possible time to improve the quality of life of patients and their relatives.