Lack of understanding, attention on Alzheimer's

KOTA KINABALU: There is an urgent need to develop cost-effective packages on medical and social care to meet the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers as well as evidence-based prevention strategies on Alzheimer's disease.At the moment, an estimated 50,000 people in Malaysia are affected by the disease but in Sabah no data is available on the prevalence of Alzheimer's, said Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad.

"Alzheimer's care costs are large and the costs to our economy are huge in terms of work cost by caregivers who must attend to their loved ones.

"Even worse, we know that the prevalence of the disease is growing. Because our population ages, the number of people stricken with this disease could double or more by 2020,"she said.

Jainab was speaking at the Public Forum on Alzheimer's Disease at the Tang Dynasty Hotel, here, Saturday.

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She also said there is lack of understanding and attention by the public regarding the disease.

"Doctors and nurses do not know enough about the disease either as it is not part of their training and even when they diagnose it, they often do not know the best way to help the Alzheimer's patients and their families manage the disease.

"I hope the Sabah Alzheimer's Disease Support Association (Sada) will always organise this public forum so that the awareness on Alzheimer's will increase among the public.

"Besides that, in future the association will hold workshops or courses to improve understanding and the skills of the carers to look after patients with Alzheimer's," she said.

Meanwhile, Sada President Dr Chris Chong said the disease not only affects the patient but also their loved ones and the carers.

"People with Alzheimer's, their families and carers are affected on a personal, emotional, financial and social level.

"A proper understanding of the societal costs of Alzheimer's disease and how these impact upon families, health and social care services may help to address this problem," Dr Chong said.

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During the forum, Universiti Malaysia Sabah psychiatrist Dr Muhammad Chanchal Azad explained that the disease is the most common form of dementia and it is irreversible at present.

"The disease involves the progressive loss of brain nerve cells and since these nerve cells are essential for normal thought, memory and other brain functions, Alzheimer patients will find it difficult to complete daily tasks at home or the workplace, have trouble understanding visual images, have problems with words, both in speaking or writing, and have changes in mood and personality, "he said.

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