KARACHI, May 13: With increase in both life expectancy and number of nuclear families, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease in Pakistan is likely to rise in the coming years. At the moment data on prevalence are not available because work has not been undertaken in this area.

So said speakers at a workshop on “Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia” in the PMA House on Tuesday. “There are so many diseases around us but because we are unaware of them we are oblivious to them,” said Yasmeen Rashid, a senior office-bearer of the Pakistan Medical Association.

“I am sure that once we have awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease we will also have studies on prevalence and incidence,” she said.

Earlier, talking about the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease, Amna B. Buttar of the Indiana University School of Medicine said anxiety was a common factor in all types of dementia. Alzheimer’s was the most prevalent of the dementias.

She said in some patients Alzheimer’s could take on so severe a form that he or she might not be able to recognize even close relatives. The family members actually suffer more than the patient as a result.

Dr Buttar said unnecessary medications cause more harm than good. So every physician who decides to treat a patient of Alzheimer’s should closely examine the usefulness of the ongoing medications.

Since depression was common among the Alzheimer’s patients, antidepressants could be prescribed, she said. Anti-convulsants could also be used.

Dr Buttar spoke at length about the non-pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer’s. Music and dance therapies could play a role in retarding the onset of the disease. She advised against altering a patient’s routine and also his or her surroundings.

The physicians entrusted with the task of treatment of Alzheimer’s patients should closely monitor the disease’s progression. “This can be achieved only through visits after a fixed period of time.”

Aziz Khan Tank of the PMA’s Karachi chapter said with nuclear families now in vogue, Alzheimer’s Disease would see a sharp rise. “Now the parents and grandparents, due to several reasons, become lonely in greater numbers.

“One reason is the increase in the number of nuclear families. The other reason is the travel abroad of sons and daughters on account of employment and marriage.

“All this does not augur well for the mental health of the senior citizens.” He was of the view that the prevalence of the disease could be as high as 5 per cent.

Meanwhile, according to a booklet distributed among the participants of the workshop, in Alzheimer’s either some cells of the brain stop working or the communication between them goes haywire.

The booklet, written by Prof Hasan Aziz, says in the ailment the quantity of some chemicals is reduced. The structure of the brain also alters.

Prof Aziz’s booklet says definitive diagnosis of the disease is done through examination under microscope of a small part of the brain. The disease could also be hereditary.

The speakers said parents who had once nurtured their offspring, due to the severity of the disease, had been left at their mercy, adds PPI.

The patients needed the personal attention of their family members, said the speakers. Many patients were found urinating and defecating in their beds.

Once they went out of their homes, they found it difficult to return due to loss of memory.

Dr Amin Gadet, the secretary general of PMA Karachi, said women were more prone to the Alzheimer’s Disease since they lived longer than their male counterparts. Dr Habibur Rehman Soomro of PMA Karachi also spoke on the occasion.