Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is estimated to have over two lakh dementia patients by
2021, said a report on the eve of World Alzheimer's Day, which is
observed each year on September 21.
The projected prevalence of dementia among elderly, aged 65 years
and above, in Kerala was 1.5 lakh in 2011, according to the latest
Dementia-India Report of Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society
of India (ARDSI).
Jacob Roy Kuriakose, chairman of Alzheimer's Disease
International, which is the worldwide federation of Alzheimer
associations, said the state was going through a period when
communicable and non-communicable diseases were either emerging or
re-emerging in the state.
In this context, the "social cost" of managing diseases like
Alzheimer's would "challenge" the existing health care system, he
added.
As research has demonstrated that cigarette smoking could lead to
cognitive impairment or isolated memory impairment, Kuriakose said
that an effective preventive strategy, including phasing out use
of tobacco products, should be put in place.
"One way of doing this would be strict implementation of the
provisions of tobacco control legislation and initiate penal
action to dissuade use," added Kuriakose, who is also the national
chairman of ARDSI.
Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, is characterised by
progressive deterioration of intellect, including loss of memory,
thinking, learning, orientation, language, comprehension and
judgement.
The impact of the disease could be so harsh that patients are even
unable to carry out everyday chores.
With no effective treatment available, the medical and scientific
community has turned its attention to identifying modifying
effects of lifestyle, including smoking.
|