Latest research on Alzheimer’s disease added three more risk factors

KARACHI: Pakistan Society of Neurology in association with AKUH organized a Webinar session under the title Update on Alzheimer’s disease commented on by nine neurologists from three countries.

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. WHO announced 21 September as World Alzheimer’s Day to promote and aware about the latest developments about this disease & its treatment.

Various surveys resulted that about 50 million population of the world is suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, and as there is no cure for the disease, the number is expected to go up to 150m by 2050.

Dr. Abdul Malik, Associate Professor Neurology at LCMD, on the topic of Burden of Dementia in Pakistan said that Alzheimer’s disease affects the elderly and currently 4.3% of the population of Pakistan is over 60 years of age. Due to this, the number of dementia patients in Pakistan is also increasing, so proper guidance and awareness is needed.

Presenting Alzheimer's data in a global context, Dr. Man Mohan Singh from New Dehli said that 50 million Alzheimer's patients have been diagnosed worldwide and the number is expected to reach 152 million by 2050. Louis Alzheimer's, a German psychologist, discovered the disease before it was discovered in 1906. Today, with each passing minute, one patient emerges. Aging is the leading cause of the disease, while modern research has revealed three more risk factors. Alcohol use, air pollution and brain injuries are also included. The United States alone is spending hundreds of billions of dollars on the care and treatment of dementia patients where Alzheimer’s is considered as the sixth leading cause of death.

Dr Keira Joann from Singapore presenting new research on the treatment of depression in Alzheimer's disease, said that after age the risk factors of Alzheimer's include depression, hypertension, obesity and smoking. For depression treatment Vortioxetine have been found effective in treating depression in all the studies done till now. The study of this drug in Pakistan is also in the stage of data analysis which will be very helpful in controlling depression with very few side effects.

Dr. Muhammad Wasay, Head Neurology Department, Agha Khan Hospital, said that the treatment of Alzheimer's is prolonged and if the treatment is not started in time, the disease becomes extremely severe in 6-7 years. There are medications that only slow the progression of the disease a few years if the patient is being treated at an early stage. He said that the most important thing with medicine in this disease is the family members who take proper and careful care of the patient and prevent the patient from getting complicated. For this, the patient's family members are counseled so that they can improve the patient's life with utmost respect.

Senior Professor Dr. Ejaz Vohra emphasizes on Patient care by strengthening our family system and social network so that the children take care of their parents and we do not need old homes.

Leading Psychiatrist and Head of Psychiatry Department, Jinnah Hospital, Dr. Prof. Iqbal Afridi said that due to the treatment gap, people do not consult a doctor knowing the effects of old age instead of the disease.

Dr. Sajid Hameed from Aga Khan Hospital explained the usefulness of Mini Mental State Examination as a screening tool for early diagnosis of this disease all over the world by 11 questions in 5-10 minutes to screen the observation, calculation, memory skills.

Regarding the prevention of Alzheimer's, Dr. Salimullah said that a good early education of children also has an effect in preventing or eradicating the disease.

Dr. Salim Barich, President, Pakistan Society of Neurology, Bolan Medical College, Quetta, thanked the guests and stressed the need for CMEs and training programs on the subject, as well as an affordable solution for patients.