Dementia: 10 Million People Diagnosed Annually, Experts
…as foundation tackles disease in Ogun
Raymond Osho
ABEOKUTA – Health experts have raised the alarm over the increase in the number of dementia victims globally.
The experts said 10 persons are diagnosed with the age-long disease every four minutes while over 10 million people are diagnosed annually.
They disclosed this during the 2023 Alake Cares at the Ake palace in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital on Friday, with the theme “Graceful Ageing”. Organised by Wellness Africa Foundation (WAF) to commemorate the 18th coronation anniversary of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, this year’s outreach was with the support of the MOPCARE Seniors Foundation.
Dementia is a loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life.
To reduce the risk of dementia in the state, WAF held a health talk and conducted medical check-ups for dozens of older people, most of whom are between the ages of 50 and 80 years.
Speaking to newsmen at the event, the Programme Director for WAF, Dr. Omotola Akinmolayan stressed that despite the ill effects of dementia, it does not have a cure.
Speaking on “Healthy Ageing”, she highlighted good nutrition, physical activity, good social relationships, and mental stimulation amongst other lifestyles as preventive measures for the disease and for promoting better overall wellness in older ages.
Akinmolayan said “Ageing is inevitable, we must age and because of this, there are some things that will come with ageing but having a lifestyle of good nutrition, good social relationships, and mental stimulation, have been confirmed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help people age gracefully with fewer side effects that may come with ageing, one of which is dementia.
Also, Dr. Ogundele Folake, a Consultant Psychiatrist with the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, who was the Guest Speaker at the event stated that 20 percent of people who are 80 years and above suffer from dementia.
“Dementia is one of the top ten diseases that affect the elderly. The challenge is that it doesn’t even have a medication to cure it. It can only reduce the progression of it. A high number of people are being diagnosed,” she added.
She said “The rate increases as the ages increase. 20 percent of people who are 80 years and above suffer from dementia. It’s a costly disease using any parameter in terms of life lost, mobility, contribution to society, and care. Every four seconds, we have 10 persons being diagnosed while over 10 million are diagnosed every year. There is no major drug to cure it or prevent it. The preventive measures are not well recognized too.”
