Dare To Forget About Alzheimer's Disease?

By Ummi Nadiah Rosli - In conjunction with World Alzheimer's Day 2009 on 21st Sept

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- The 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan, English author Iris Murdoch, American boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, and Malay film legend Ahmad Mahmud, they were among the exceptional personalities that we remember for their legacy.

But they had struggled to remember theirs.

Of differing ethnic origin, gender and social background, these icons shared an unfortunate relationship in the form of an unforgiving health disorder - Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease or AD is a brain illness which results in the progressive loss of brain nerve cells, leading to a gradual decline of mental functions and is the most common cause of dementia, accounting for over 60 per cent of all dementia cases.

(Dementia is deterioration of intellectual faculties, such as memory, concentration, and judgment, resulting from an organic disease or a disorder of the brain.And unlike most diseases, there is no prevention or cure yet for AD.

ONE NEW CASE EVERY SECOND
According to a report from Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), 4.6 million new cases of dementia are reported worldwide annually, which translates to one new case every second.It is estimated that there are currently about 18 million people with AD worldwide, with one in ten individuals over the age of 65 years suffering from the condition.

The number of new cases of AD in the Asia Pacific region is projected to increase from 4.3 million per year in 2005 to 19.7 million new cases by 2050.

In Malaysia, approximately 20,000 Malaysians are currently diagnosed with the illness.

However the illness affects a significant number of people, estimated at 60,000 remain undetected as the disease is not generally known or is wrongly attributed as part of the aging process.

ADI highlighted that in 2005, the prevalence of AD in Malaysia is 63 per 1,000 people, and the incidence rate at 20.1.

This number is expected to double by 2020, and reach a staggering prevalence of 453.9 and 138.8 incidence per 1,000 people by 2050.

AD DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE
Met at a press conference organised by the Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM), in collaboration with Novartis Corporation Malaysia recently, Head of Geriatric Unit, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Dr Lee Fatt Soon said that AD was a result of deposits of 'plaques' and 'tangles' which begin to form in the structure of the brain, leading to the death of brain cells.

Patients with AD also have a shortage of important chemicals that are involved with the transmission of messages within the brain.

"We cannot single out a specific factor as the cause of AD, which means it could happen to anyone. However, the risk factors that have been identified among others is age, in which the incidence of AD doubles every five years after turning 60. Presence of mild cognitive impairment, as well as specific genetic variants increase the chance of getting AD too".

"Other risk factors include diabetes, family history of dementia, high systolic blood pressure, smoking, stroke, and traumatic brain injury," Lee said.

Those with AD will most commonly show signs beginning with loss of short-term memory, in which they could remember an old school experience but forget what they ate for breakfast that morning.

A patient will also forget how to get to a familiar place or misplace common objects and even forget simple things like familiar people's names, commonly used phone numbers, or what month it is.

Other symptoms, he said, are that AD sufferers will repeat things often and feel more suspicious, cautious or anxious and lose interest in things and people that used to be enjoyable.

Dr Lee added that since AD displays similar behavioural and personality changes to other illnesses, such as lack of empathy, and agitation, these symptoms should not be mistaken for depression or stroke.

EARLY DIAGNOSIS ESSENTIAL
AD comes in stages, whereby it can progress slowly or rapidly, usually over three to 10 years.

Over time, AD impairs cognitive and behavioral functions such as the ability to perform even the most basic tasks like putting on clothes, brushing teeth and bathing.

This year's World Alzheimer's Day, themed 'Diagnosing Dementia: See It Sooner' is an urgent call for early diagnosis."AD cannot be cured currently, and the earlier it is diagnosed will enable proper management of patients and to plan for the future of the patient and his/her family.

"The need for early diagnosis is also pivotal for the caregivers to identify sources of support. We should not forget about the impact of AD on caregivers. It's a physically, financially, and emotionally straining experience to take care for an AD patient," said Dr Lee.

Saying that there was no straightforward test for AD or for any other cause of dementia, Dr Lee described a usual diagnosis made as excluding other physical or psychological causes which present similar symptoms.

Diagnosis can go through various specialists such as psychiatrists, physicians, or neurologists to rule out other possible causes of AD symptoms.

Along with full physical examinations, assessments will also be carried out for changes in memory, intellectual functioning, functional abilities and behavior determine what stage of the AD the patient is in.

"Since there is no cure for AD, the drug treatment that are available aims to slow down the symptoms and disease progression. There are also non-drug therapy provided."

TO FURTHER EDUCATE THE PUBLIC
At the similar event to mark World Alzheimer's Day 2009, ADFM patron Puan Sri Wendy Ong said the public still needs to learn more about the disease.

"We need to instill awareness that AD is a serious health issue as many still dismiss it as a 'disease for the elderly,'" she said.

To commemorate the special day, she stated that ADFM will carry out a series of events nationwide such as having public forums in Penang, Johor and Melaka, a 'Memory Walk' in Ipoh as well as pre-diagnostic screenings.

"In addition, we are marking the occasion on the 21st by embarking on a nationwide signature drive for the Global AD Charter. The World Health Organisation has not recognised AD as a critical illness, and this charter aims to make AD and other Dementias a global health priority," she said.

Further information on Alzheimer's Disease and World Alzheimer's Day 2009 can be found on http://www.adfm.org.my/

-- BERNAMA

From HERE