KARACHI: World Alzheimer’s Day is being observed in Pakistan today. Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour.
Heath experts warned that the disease was increasing globally, including Pakistan which effects an individual every 60 seconds. The people at the age of 65 years are affected by 7 percent while those over the age of 75 are likely to be affected by 10-15 percent. If the disease is not timely treated it becomes incurable, they warned.
According to an estimate by year 2050 the people affected with disease would be 135 million worldwide, which would upset unlimited families. The dementia is also called ancestral diseases and is one of the six reasons of deaths.
President, Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation, Professor Muhammad Wasay and General Secretary Dr Abdul Malik informed that the elderly population of Pakistan stands around 8 million which makes the country sixth largest in terms of aging population. There is no authentic figure available for cerebral diseases including dementia, the noted.
Dr Wasay informed that to create awareness about the this fatal diseases a press briefing will be held on Tuesday, September 26 which would be addressed by senior physician Professor Hamid Shafqat, professor Ejaz Vohra of Ziauddin Hospital, professor Iqbal Afridi- head of psychology and cerebral diseases Jinnah Hospital, professor Khalid Sher head of Neurology Jinnah Hospital, Professor Naila Shahbaz Head of Dow University of Health Sciences and other health experts.
Published in Daily Times, September 21st 2017.
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