This year the theme is ‘Let’s talk about dementia’ and a global campaign is targeted towards raising awareness and challenges including the stigma around the disease. Globally, there is little or no understanding of Dementia which leads to stigmatisation. We unravel the history and significance of the day and how you can prevent the disease.
What is the history?
In 1901, a German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer came across the first case in a 50-year-old German woman with the brain condition and the disease finally derived the named after him.
Later in 1984, Alzheimer Disease International was founded and on its 10th anniversary, the foundation in 1994 announced September 21 as the first World Alzheimer’s Day, while World Alzheimer’s Month was launched in 2012.
Going back to the 7th century BC, Greek philosopher Pythagoras had spoke of “a human lifespan” and termed the later years as the ‘senium’. He described a period of mental and physical decline with the term senium. Not only the Greek philosopher in late 1500s and early 1600s Shakespeare also mentioned about it in his great plays like ‘Hamlet’ and ‘King Lear’ where the characters suffered the loss of mental alertness in old age.
How does Alzheimer’s disease affects people?
There is a confusion over Alzheimer’s and dementia as one and the same. There is a difference between the two. As per website Healthline, Dementia is the overall term that describe symptoms affecting memory, performance of daily activities, and communication abilities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia.
There are broadly seven stages of Alzheimer’s disease: stage 1 - no impairment, stage 2 - very mild decline, stage 3 - mild decline, stage 4 - moderate decline, stage 5 - moderately severe decline, stage 6 - severe decline and stage 7 - very severe decline.
While Alzheimer’s is a progressive disorder that causes the loss of brain cells and neural circuits, and ultimately leading to cognitive decline. Some of the following symptoms are below:
*Difficulty in recalling events and occasions
*Hampers the ability to think properly
*Difficulty in decision-making
*Most times individual misplace things
*Unable to get the right words for communicating thought
*Persistent forgetfulness
*Slurring while talking and problem in speech
Is there any cure?
As per WHO there are around 50 million people suffering from dementia, and that there are around 10 million new cases every year. It is important to note that there is no permanent cure for this condition. While prescribed medicines, and therapies can only help in delaying the occurrence of the condition besides enhancing the quality of life of treated patients.
How to prevent it?
It is important to raise awareness about this brain condition since Alzheimer’s disease that affects about 6 per cent of people aged 65 years and older. There is a lot of misinformation about the disease where some considers it as a normal part of ageing which is not true. It is important to note that lifestyle-related habits if not directly responsible but can definitely make the condition worse.
- Medical experts suggest avoid smoking and excess consumption of alcohol.
- It is important to get the required amount of sleep.
- Try to consume antioxidants, fresh fruits and vegetables
- Also walk for at least 30 minutes daily.
- Never ignore stress, depression, and other mental health-related issues.
- Moreover always try to be a positive person and follow a healthy lifestyle.
- Control your blood pressure, diabetes and ensure the environment that helps to keep your brain as active as possible.
In such a condition one can provide dementia care support, supporting the family members, helping in early diagnosis to help a patient’s condition, destigmatisation, among several other support.