DOHA: Marking World Alzheimer’s Day, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is encouraging residents of Qatar to learn how to spot symptoms of the brain disorder and support those living with the condition.
The day is observed on September 21, representing an international campaign to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and reduce associated stigma.
The theme for this year’s campaign is ‘Remember Me’ urging individuals not to forget those affected with Alzheimer’s and those who may have died of it.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia — referred to as brain disorders that affect memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion — and accounts for about 60 percent of all dementia cases.
The World Alzheimer Report 2015 estimates that there are 46.8 million people living with dementia around the world.
Although the majority of the people affected with Alzheimer’s are 65 or above, according to Alzheimer’s Association, up to five percent with the disease have early onset of Alzheimer’s, which can appear in people in their 40s and 50s.
Dr Mohammad Al Banna, Consultant Psychiatrist and Director, Older Adult Psychiatry Services, HMC, said the disease is progressive and worsens with time.
However, timely diagnosis can enable those affected, their families and caregivers to learn more about the condition, understand potential changes, and develop a management plan.
“Early symptoms may include difficulties with language, significant memory loss, especially short-term memory, difficulty performing familiar tasks, changes in personality, including evident signs of depression, aggression, and lack of interest and motivation,” Dr Al Banna said.
He added that people with Alzheimer’s may have difficulty with day-to-day living and may exhibit different effects, such as inability to remember names and events, becoming extremely dependent on others for tasks like cooking, shopping, bathing and dressing,
“People should know that when a person is experiencing a decline in their mental abilities, they often become vulnerable and require ongoing reassurance and, most importantly, attention of their loved ones.
“Families and caregivers must collaborate to improve the quality of life for these individuals,” he said.
HMC’s Older Adults Psychiatry Outreach Programme was launched in 2011 in conjunction with Qatar National Mental Health Strategy and Implementation Plan 2013-15 to establish community-based mental health services on par with international standards to remove stigma, reduce incidence, prevalence and severity of mental illness in Qatar. A range of services are offered under it.
Patients suspected of having Alzheimer’s and dementia are offered support at older adult outpatient clinics at the Psychiatry Department.
The clinics are run by geriatric consultant psychiatrists and training fellows and serve as the main referral point for assessment, diagnosis and other services for patients with dementia and their families.
Dr Al Banna said although dementia cannot be prevented completely, risks can be reduced by adopting a health-promoting lifestyle.
The Peninsula
