Medical experts have raised concern over the increasing number of people living with dementia globally.
The experts revealed that 10 persons are diagnosed with the age-long disease every four minutes, while over 10 million people are diagnosed annually.
This was disclosed on 24th of November 2023 at the 2023 Alake Cares held at the Ake palace in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital 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.
The event was supported by MOPCARE Seniors Foundation, 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.
Dementia was described as a loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life.
Programme Director for WAF, Dr. Omotola Akinmolayan emphasized that despite the disability 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 speaking at the event, 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 age increases. 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 minutes, 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.”