During the month of September, people from all over the world celebrate World Alzheimer’s Month. This month raises awareness and campaigns so that the disease is more widely known. It encourages people to seek out information regarding symptoms and get advice from experts. September 2021 completes a decade of this month benign celebrated globally. This year’s theme is ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s’. According to WHO, 47 million people or 5% of the elderly population suffer from dementia as of 2015. By 2030 the number of affected will rise to 75 million and by 2050 it will be 132 million. GlobalData estimates 16 countries where 6% of all 60 years old and above face dementia. India features in this list too.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s

Worldwide an estimated 50 million people live their life with dementia. In India, the number of people living with dementia is around 4 million. Dementia is a collective term for a cluster of symptoms. It causes difficulties to a person’s memory, language and other thinking related skills. Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. An estimated 70% of dementia cases are of Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s causes trouble in memory, behaviour and thinking. The progression rate for everyone is different yet a person suffering from Alzheimer’s cannot survive for more than eight years after the symptoms are visible. 

Early Signs and Symptoms

The seven main symptoms of Alzheimer’s are - 

Memory loss

Trouble understanding time and place

Changes in behaviour

Trouble with problem-solving

Misplacing things

Losing interest in social activities

Trouble understanding spatial relationship

Treatments

Science has till now found no cure to stop or alow down Alzheimer’s. With some medication, temporary relief can be given to the patient. We should strive to provide better care for such patients and build for them a community where they can be taken care of.