Wrinkled eyes look for support

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Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsWith the number of the aged rising in the district, and cases of Alzheimer’s correspondingly going up, a strong social support system is the need of the hour.The changing social scenario, with urban migration, children leaving to far-off places for jobs, nuclear family system and so on, is leaving the ageing population anxious, lonely and depressed. As a consequence the nerve cells in the brain die faster than that in the body causing loss of memory and motor skills. Studies also state that more retired hands are falling prey to the disease as cerebral activities decrease and negative thinking leads to depression. The fact that women tend to live longer than men is also causing several aged widows to be hit by the disease.Other than Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI)centres in Kochi there is no other support system. The number of dementia cases are increasing in the district according to a study conducted by ARDSI. As per the studies conducted in the city, 3.3 per cent of those aged about 65 suffer from dementia. Among this 54 per cent suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and 40 per cent vascular dementia. “More awareness programmes are required so that people can approach the doctor, diagnose the disease and prevent it from deteriorating further. We confront three kinds of cases, pseudo Alzheimer’s’ which is actually depression and can be treated. The other is partial Alzheimer’s which is caused due to strokes and other risk factors. These can be reversed but the third is the untreatable Alzheimer’s, the etiology of which is not known and care givers play a big role,” said Dr Mathew Abraham with Memory Clinic at Indira Gandhi Cooperative Hospital. On the facilities for Alzheimer’s patients at the General Hhospital, DMO Dr Junaid Rehman said, “We need to look at setting up a department for Alzheimer’s patients and also a centre in the district.”The Social Welfare Department has also not taken up anything for Alzheimer’s patients, other than the Centre’s scheme for providing medicines, said sources.first published:September 21, 2012, 10:24 ISTlast updated:September 21, 2012, 10:24 IST
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With the number of the aged rising in the district, and cases of Alzheimer’s correspondingly going up, a strong social support system is the need of the hour.

The changing social scenario, with urban migration, children leaving to far-off places for jobs, nuclear family system and so on, is leaving the ageing population anxious, lonely and depressed. As a consequence the nerve cells in the brain die faster than that in the body causing loss of memory and motor skills. Studies also state that more retired hands are falling prey to the disease as cerebral activities decrease and negative thinking leads to depression. The fact that women tend to live longer than men is also causing several aged widows to be hit by the disease.

Other than Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India (ARDSI)centres in Kochi there is no other support system.

The number of dementia cases are increasing in the district according to a study conducted by ARDSI. As per the studies conducted in the city, 3.3 per cent of those aged about 65 suffer from dementia. Among this 54 per cent suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and 40 per cent vascular dementia.

“More awareness programmes are required so that people can approach the doctor, diagnose the disease and prevent it from deteriorating further. We confront three kinds of cases, pseudo Alzheimer’s’ which is actually depression and can be treated. The other is partial Alzheimer’s which is caused due to strokes and other risk factors. These can be reversed but the third is the untreatable Alzheimer’s, the etiology of which is not known and care givers play a big role,” said Dr Mathew Abraham with Memory Clinic at Indira Gandhi Cooperative Hospital.

On the facilities for Alzheimer’s patients at the General Hhospital, DMO Dr Junaid Rehman said, “We need to look at setting up a department for Alzheimer’s patients and also a centre in the district.”

The Social Welfare Department has also not taken up anything for Alzheimer’s patients, other than the Centre’s scheme for providing medicines, said sources.