OCTOBER 22: It starts with minor lapses in memory. And over a period of time, forgetting becomes a habit and Dementia (degeneration of the brain) strikes. The first urban study to identify the extent of the problem in Mumbai indicates that 2.3 per cent of the population above the age of 65 in the city suffers from dementia. And of these, there is a large percentage which is battling Alzhiemer's Disease, one of the commonest forms of dementia.For the last three years, the Mumbai-based Dementia Research and Services Group along with the Bandra Holy Family Medical Research Society has been conducting a survey in Bandra. The initial results of the survey, which was completed last month, indicate that .41 per cent of the sample of 2,4488 residents above the age of 40 suffer from this ``cancer of the brain'' and 2.3 per cent above the age of 65 are also affected.
Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist Dr Dilip M. Panikker explains: ``The preliminary findings of the study are in keeping with other studies inIndia. It indicates that around 3 per cent of the Indian population suffers from Dementia and that Alzheirmer's Disease is the most common form. Our study also indicates that more women suffer from Alzheimer's though there is no such demarcation when it comes to dementia in general. The exact figures to qualify this are still being tabulated.''
This study was made public for the first time at the opening session of the fifth national conference of the Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI). The study reiterated the findings of the two previous studies done in Kerela and Ballabgarh, which also indicated that the percentage of dementia cases in India is less than that in the western world.Various studies conducted in Finland, the United Kingdom and Italy state that six to eight per cent of their elderly population suffers from dementia. In China, on the other hand, only 2.5 per cent of their old people suffer from dementia.
Generalising, doctors say that in the Asian sub continent andAfrica, cases of dementia in general and Alzheimer's Disease in particular are much less than in the West. While research is still on to look into the reasons, certain reports suggest that the diet might have something to do with longer lasting memory.
Discussing the symptoms and medical advancements in the field, doctors and experts reiterated the need for awareness and the importance of early detection. Dr Mary Marshall, director of the Dementia Services Development Centre in Scotland says: ``Lack of awareness is the biggest problem Alzheimer patients face. Also, as a result of the medicalisation of the disease, people don't realise that the patient is also affected by his or her environment, neighbours and the weather, among other things. And a lot of these things can be changed for the better by the family. The role of the doctor is limited.''
Visit the doctor if..
High frequency of memory losses. In cases of AD, the patient tends to forget more than just names and keys. The lapses areconsistent and severe. Very often, patients forget the names of their relatives.
Social withdrawal and a tendency to remain isolated.
Reduction in time spent on reading and other hobbies.
Changes in behavioural patterns. Patients often display erratic or sloppy behaviour.
In acute cases, the dementia degenerates and patients are unable to perform their day-to-day activities.Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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