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| Over 35 million dementia patients in the world |
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Sunday, November 08, 2009
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE
FEDERAL Minister for Social Welfare and Special Education Samina Khalid Ghurki has said that Ministery for Social Welfare and Special Education will not only provide financial support for the cause of Alzheimer’s Pakistan but will also run collaborative community based projects.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 12th Asia Pacific Regional Conference of Alzheimer’s Disease International, jointly organized by Alzheimer’s Pakistan in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) from November 7 to 10 at a local hotel in Lahore, Samina Khalid Ghurki appreciated the efforts of Alzheimer’s Pakistan in providing services to the people with dementia and their families. She promised to provide all kinds of financial and technical support as well as government’s patronage for combating Alzheimer’s disease among elderly population in the country. “The ministery for social welfare and special education and the ministry of health will develop strategies in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Pakistan,” she added.
Marc Wortmann, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Disease International, presenting the global dementia report 2009, said that there were currently 35 million people worldwide with dementia in the world and its prevalence would nearly double every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050. There are about a million people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia in Pakistan. Every seven seconds, there is a new case of dementia in the world. According to the researchers, he said, much of the increase in dementia prevalence is clearly attributable to increases in the numbers of people with dementia in low and middle income.
Prof Yasmin Raashid, Patron Alzheimer’s Pakistan, said that dementia was a syndrome due to brain disease. It is usually chronic, and is characterized by a progressive global deterioration in intellectual abilities, including memory, learning, orientation, language, comprehension and judgment. Alzheimer’s disease, in particular, is progressive and fatal. Dementia mainly affects older people, especially those over age 65. After this age, dementia prevalence doubles every five years. Dementia is one of the major causes of disability in late-life and is linked to a large number of underlying brain diseases. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia.
The delegates from countries including Australia, UK, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Sir Lanka, Egypt and Bangladesh are participating in the conference. This four-day conference includes Alzheimer’s University, workshops for family physicians and caregivers and a scientific programme covering all aspects of the disease.
Besides, Frank J Schaper, Chief Executive Officer, Alzheimer’s Australia (WA), Zia Haider Rizvi, President Alzheimer’s Pakistan and Prof Dr Humayun Maqsood, Chairman of Conference Scientific Committee and Prof Haroon Rashid Chaudhry also spoke at the inauguration ceremony.
A large number of doctors, psychologists, volunteers, students and family caregivers are participating in the conference from all over Pakistan.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
