Alzheimer's impacts on patients, family
WORLD 27 September 2022 - 07:31
Alzheimer's disease is often called the epidemic of the 21st century with more than 55 million people worldwide living with dementia, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), and that number is estimated to reach 139 million by 2050.
Every year, thousands of people die globally due to the disease, a medical condition that causes memory loss or dementia, and a general decline in cognitive functions due to the death of brain cells over time, Daily Sabah reports.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"Dementia means loss of cognitive function. The most common reason disease for this loss is an accumulation of certain substances in the brain (mostly amyloid and tau); these are Alzheimer’s changes. So, a more correct term is dementia of the Alzheimer’s type," Nikolaos Scarmeas, a professor of neurology at the Medical School of the University of Athens, told Anadolu Agency (AA).
The exact causes of the disease are not known however, genetic factors and age are considered to be some of the main ones, Sofia Kanellopoulou, a health psychologist at the day care center of the Athens Alzheimer’s Association, told AA.
Recently, there have been studies that link the disease with high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and smoking.
However, Scarmeas said: "The cholesterol problem is quite complex. There are some studies that suggest that problems with cholesterol at midage may play a role in dementia at old age. But there has been no proven preventive effectiveness of cholesterol-lowering drugs so far."
More than 60% of Alzheimer's patients live in low- and middle-income countries, and 10 million new cases are added each year.
There is no known definitive treatment method for the disease, which is defined as a neurodegenerative disorder accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms and behavioral changes characterized by a decrease in daily activities and deterioration in cognitive abilities.
According to the WHO, Alzheimer's disease is the seventh most common reason of death worldwide, and the number of patients is forecast to nearly triple by 2050.
Since the early discovery of the disease by German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer in 1901, a lot of progress has been made and scientists and researchers are optimistic that the path to its cure might be on the way.
"There are quite a few drugs being tested in Phase 3 studies," Scarmeas said.
Earlier this year, an additional 42 genes were discovered that scientists linked to the development of the disease.
The most significant discovery was the MGMT gene, which scientists linked to the development of the disease in women making them more susceptible to developing Alzheimer's than men.
"It has been known for a long time that the disease is more common for women compared to men. There are many potential reasons for this including the loss of hormonal protection post-menopause, the longer life expectancy, etc. Maybe there are additional genetic reasons," Scarmeas said.
In recent years, other types of treatment were also used worldwide mostly for patients who are in the initial or middle stage of the disease and are applied in combination with medication.
Such treatments might include mental empowerment, speech therapy, occupational therapy, art therapy and physical exercise.
"Much funding has been funneled to dementia research since this is a major public health problem," Scarmeas said, adding that "much better therapeutic tools in the future" will be available.
There are usually three stages of the disease – early, mid and advanced. In the advanced stage, patients are completely unable to communicate with the environment and are 100% dependent on their caregivers.
A woman in her late 60s has been living with Alzheimer’s for the past five years. Her husband George Pano said that the progress of the disease is somewhat slow, but changes have developed in the patient’s daily routine.
"She repeats herself several times, she forgets answers just a few seconds later," Pano said.
"My biggest fear is that the time will come when she would not be able to recognize our children and our grandchildren or even me," he said, adding, "It will be a nightmare."
"Caring for family members that suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s could be stressful," Kanellopoulou said.
Katerina, 53, takes care of her 78-year-old mother suffering from an advanced stage of Alzheimer's.
"It is a very difficult task," she said.
"There are times that she asks to go visit her parents and her husband; they are all dead," Katerina told AA with an obviously distressed tone.
"It is the worst thing to see that someone you love and care about is unable to recognize you. I sometimes cannot handle it," she added.
"The emotional burden is very important as caregivers are more likely to be depressed, they tend to increase the use of psychotropic medicines and visit doctors more often ... They do not sleep well and feel exhausted. The constant anxiety is a particularly aggravating factor," Kanellopoulou said.
In Greece only, according to Athens Alzheimer's Association, there are 200,000 people suffering from dementia and 280,000 people from a mild mental disorder that is a precursor to dementia, while there are around 400,000 caregivers dealing with patients suffering from it.
Although the country has devised a national action plan for dementia and Alzheimer's disease and there are memory clinics and day care centers mostly in the large cities of Greece, services are still significantly inadequate.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Armenia returns four villages to Azerbaijan, paving the way for peace in the South Caucasus Landmark accord
23 April 2024 - 09:14
|
2
|
Iran re-evaluating its ties with Azerbaijan, Armenia Baku - more important, honest partner than Yerevan
25 April 2024 - 12:00
|
3
|
Mark Rutte seeks Türkiye's backing for new job A new pair of hands
24 April 2024 - 16:55
|
4
|
Armenian PM's Moscow visit sparks speculation on bilateral relations Dilemma between East, West
23 April 2024 - 11:19
|
5
|
"Peoples of South Caucasus should resolve their differences independently" Foreign analysts on Caliber.Az
24 April 2024 - 17:40
|
Azerbaijani parliament condemns EP's biased resolution on human rights
25 April 2024 - 20:25
Putin calls on large businesses to traditionally take part in SPIEF 2024
25 April 2024 - 20:19
Iranian defense minister heads to Astana for SCO defense ministers' meeting
25 April 2024 - 19:59
Türkiye neutralises over 800 terrorists since early 2024
VIDEO25 April 2024 - 19:43
European Parliament urges member states not to consider Russian elections legitimate
25 April 2024 - 19:24
How Iran covers up damage from Israel’s strikes?
PHOTO25 April 2024 - 19:05
Palestinians retrieve 392 bodies from 3 mass graves in Gaza’s Khan Younis
25 April 2024 - 18:46
Iran to launch missiles anywhere in Israel if necessary, general warns
25 April 2024 - 18:27
Twenty border markers installed between Azerbaijan & Armenia
Delimitation progress25 April 2024 - 18:18
Dozens detained at protests in Armenia
25 April 2024 - 18:08
Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan expanding cooperation in space industry
25 April 2024 - 17:49
Controversial Nobel Peace Prize nominee Vardanyan faces int’l scrutiny & opposition
A closer look at actions contrary to peace & humanitarian efforts25 April 2024 - 17:31
Iran builds up military power by showing off advanced Bavar-373 air defence system
PHOTO25 April 2024 - 17:15
Presidents of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan visit Fuzuli, Aghdam cities
PHOTO25 April 2024 - 17:05
Lukashenko blames opposition and NATO: They want to take a district in Brest region by force
25 April 2024 - 17:00
Top Israeli, Egyptian officials secretly meet to discuss possible Rafah invasion
25 April 2024 - 16:41
Energy leading to peace
Proceeding from Azerbaijani President’s speech in ADA25 April 2024 - 16:22
“It would be a big mistake if Armenia used the support gained from the EU against Azerbaijan”
Amashov’s impromptu interview with Ambassador Sharp25 April 2024 - 16:16
Armenian Parliament speaker says legitimate border crucial for peace with Azerbaijan
25 April 2024 - 16:07
New mass grave discovered in Khojaly
Investigation underway / PHOTO25 April 2024 - 15:51
Port of Baku: the Eurasian trade hub working to expand and accelerate growth
Article by Euronews / VIDEO25 April 2024 - 15:39
Hybrid warfare being waged against Armenia, official says
25 April 2024 - 15:24
Azerbaijani police discover cache of weapons in Khankendi, linked to Armenian forces
25 April 2024 - 14:58
Zakharova slams Armenian media for distorting Russian leadership’s statements on Baku-Yerevan ties
25 April 2024 - 14:44
Baku, Budapest cement economic ties, sign protocol
25 April 2024 - 14:27
Yerevan ready to discuss gas purchase with Baku – Armenian Speaker
UPDATED25 April 2024 - 14:15
Azerbaijan set to take bold steps vis-à-vis climate change - minister
25 April 2024 - 14:09
Official: Hamas would lay down its weapons if two-state solution implemented
25 April 2024 - 13:54
Türkiye captures nearly 3,000 Islamic State suspects in 10 months
VIDEO25 April 2024 - 13:40
Blinken tours China to promote some ties
25 April 2024 - 13:26
Azerbaijani presidential aide showcases Fuzuli's rebirth in stirring social media video
25 April 2024 - 13:15
Media: China harbours ship tied to North Korea-Russia arms transfers
25 April 2024 - 13:11
Western Azerbaijan Community condemns US human rights report as discriminatory
25 April 2024 - 12:58
Israeli Air Force strikes dozens of targets in Gaza
VIDEO25 April 2024 - 12:43
Hungary prepares to participate in Karabakh's reconstruction
25 April 2024 - 12:29
Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan appoints new prime minister
25 April 2024 - 12:15
Political analyst: Good relations with Türkiye to be favourable for Armenia
25 April 2024 - 12:13
Iran re-evaluating its ties with Azerbaijan, Armenia
Baku - more important, honest partner than Yerevan25 April 2024 - 12:00
Balancing Turkmenistan – Afghanistan relations
Deviated approach25 April 2024 - 11:48
CENTCOM: US repells Houthi attacks on ships
25 April 2024 - 11:44