SOMEONE IN THE WORLD DEVELOPS DEMENTIA EVERY 3 SECONDS

Lahore: Alzheimer’s Pakistan launched the World Alzheimer Report 2015: ‘The Global Impact of Dementia: An analysis of prevalence, incidence, cost and trends’ in Pakistan during a Press Conference today.  According to the world report, there are currently around 46.8 million people living with dementia around the world, with numbers projected to nearly double every 20 years, increasing to 74.7 million by 2030 and 131.5 million by 2050. There are over 9.9 million new cases of dementia each year worldwide, implying one new case every 3.2 seconds.

The report shows that the current annual societal and economic cost of dementia is US $818 billion, and it is expected to become a trillion dollar disease in just three years’ time. This means that if global dementia care were a country, it would be the 18th largest economy in the world. It is estimated that 58% of all people living with dementia (PWD) today reside in low and middle income countries, a proportion that is anticipated to rise to 68% by 2050, driven mainly by population growth and an ageing global population. It is also expected that by 2050, nearly half of all PWD globally will live in Asia.

The updated estimates are based on new research led by Professor Martin Prince from King’s College London’s Global Observatory for Ageing and Dementia Care.

Addressing the Press Conference, Dr. Yasmin Raashid, Patron, Alzheimer’s Pakistan highlighted that there are around one million PWD in Pakistan but this figure will rise sharply in the future. The report calls for a specific global work stream from all stakeholders focused on assisting low income countries like Pakistan to develop programmes to raise awareness and improve access to early diagnosis and care.

Dr. Hussain Jafri, Secretary General, Alzheimer’s Pakistan commented: “The rising global cost of dementia will pose serious challenges to health and social care systems globally including Pakistan. These findings demonstrate the urgent need for the government to implement policies and legislation to provide a better quality of life for PWD, both now and in the future.”

Zia Rizvi, President Alzheimer’s Pakistan added: “The findings also highlight the importance of supporting the PWD and their carers, and also encourage healthy lifestyle changes which may reduce the risk of dementia.”

During the Press Conference, Alzheimer’s Pakistan also announced that the month of September is celebrated as World Alzheimer’s Month (WAM) throughout the world. Alzheimer’s Pakistan is also celebrating this day by organizing a number of events during September 2015 to create awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease and related Dementias. One of the key events being organized by Alzheimer’s Pakistan is a Grand Quiz amongst Medical Colleges titled “HEALTHY LIFESTYLE REDUCES THE RISK OF DEMENTIA”. A total of 12 medical colleges from all over the country are participating in the Grand Quiz. Alzheimer’s Pakistan announces that the following 12 Medical Colleges are participating in the grand quiz:, which include Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi, Central Park Medical Colleges, Lahore, Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, Sharif Medical and Dental College, Lahore, Rehman Medical College, Peshawar, Rashid Latif Medical College, Lahore, Lahore Medical & Dental College, Lahore and Shalamar Medical & Dental College, Lahore,

Each Medical College has a 5 member team which had been selected from preliminary quiz held in colleges between 14-17th of September, 2015 and will participate in the GRAND QUIZ FINALE on 30th September, 2015 in Lahore.