According to reports at the G8 Dementia Summit, Alzheimer’s disease which currently affects 44 million worldwide may increase three-fold by the year 2050. The Caribbean has been seeing increasing cases of dementia and Alzheimer’s with many NGO organizations trying to educate the public about the disease.
According to reports, 135 Million people may be suffering with the debilitating degenerative disease by then. The G8 Dementia Summit takes place in London, UK next week.
Dementia describes a deterioration of mental functions including memory, orientation, judgment and language and Alzheimer’s is considered a progression of the disease that characterizes two-thirds of the cases of dementia. There is no cure but certain drugs can help ease the symptoms but cannot address the source issues or cure the same.
What is even more surprising is that patients may have had an insidious build-up of dementia up to ten years before onset of the disease.
The report released ahead of the G8 Dementia Summit suggests that 71 per cent (71%) of patients will be from poor to middle income countries. At present only 38% of the number of worldwide cases present in rich countries. Africa and South East Asian account for the higher number of Alzheimer’s cases projected for 2050.
According to reports most governments are completely ill-prepared for a dementia epidemic.
The executive director for Alzheimer Disease International said, “It’s a global epidemic and it is only getting worse – if we look into the future the numbers of elderly people will rise dramatically.” Dementia and Alzheimer’s have been described as one of the biggest social and health care challenges of this era, he explained.
Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the UK’s Alzheimer’s Society said, “We must tackle dementia now, for those currently living with the condition across the world and for those millions who will develop dementia in the future. The G8 is our once-in-a-generation chance to conquer this condition and we must see meaningful action after the talking is over. More research is definitely needed”. (Original source BBC, UK)
