LAHORE: Alzheimer’s Pakistan organized a seminar on the ‘Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementia at a local hotel here on Saturday.

The purpose of the seminar was to spread awareness about the disease and related dementias amongst medical practitioners and the general public.

The seminar was attended by people from all walks of life including the people living with dementia (PWD) and their caregivers.

Among others Dr Yasmin Raashid, patron, Alzheimer’s Pakistan, Dr Hussain Jafri, secretary general, Dr Ali Hashmi, Dr Yasmin Ehsan and Dr Shahdia Batool atttended the seminar.

The speakers said Alzheimer’s disease was the most common cause of dementia in the world. They said it is a progressive Neuro Degenerative Disease which affects memory, thinking, emotions and personality. They said the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease is three per cent in the 65 years age cohort and 15 per cent in the 85 age cohort.

While sharing some statistics in this regard, Dr Yasmin Raashid said there are currently 48 million people living with dementia in the world and this figure is projected to triple by 2050.

She said only 10pc of people who suffer from Alzheimer’s are diagnosed by a clinician in the developing world. “The estimated number of people living with dementia in Pakistan is one million; making it necessary to train medical practitioners and the paramedics on how to identify symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, on how to manage dementia and the care and respite services available for people living with dementia in Pakistan,” Ms Yasmin said.

The speakers emphasised the importance of instituting Dementia Care Services at the primary and secondary level health facilities.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2017