The incidence of Alzheimer ’s Disease (AD) is increasing in the city just as it is in the country. This apparently is linked to the increase in life expectancy. Two-thirds of the patients who suffer from AD are above the age of 65.
The average life expectancy in India was 63.5 years in 2002-06 (Human Development Index). Life Expectancy increased to 67.9 years in 2010-14. Currently the average life expectancy in the country is 68.35 years. In 1960, the average life expectancy was as low as 41.17 years, according to World Bank estimates.
City-based psychiatrists conducted various awareness programmes on the occasion of the World Alzheimer’s Day on Thursday.
Vijayawada Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (VIMHANS) chief psychiatrist Vishal Indla said that psychiatric hospitals were getting more number of AD cases of late. VIMHANS was getting “five to six old and new cases every day”. The prime reason for the increased number of cases being referred to hospitals was increase in life expectancy and increase in awareness, he said.
AD was the common sub-type of dementia which was characterised by loss or decline in memory and other cognitive abilities. The disease also reduced the lifespan of patients, Dr. Vishal said. AD was often mistaken for age related memory loss. The patients were brought to hospital only after the diseases advances and they begin to display behavioural and emotional disturbances.
“In one case, a woman who was in her 60s was brought the hospital by her children when she repeatedly charged her 70-year-old husband of having an illicit relationship with a 20-year-old domestic help. On examination, the woman was diagnosed with dementia,” Dr Vishal said.
With the number of aged people increasing the prevalence rate of AD would increase. According to projection, the number of those afflicted would increase to 150 lakh by 2050, he said.
While there was no cure for AD, the onset of the disease could be retarded, Dr. Vishal said. Regular exercise, both physical and mental, good dietary habits, NSAIDs, antioxidants and cholesterol lowering agents reduced the risk of AD, he said.
Another city based psychiatrist R.K. Ayodhya said that AD patients suffered from “recent memory loss”. Because of it AD patients have breakfast but after a while forget about it and ask to be served again. Yet another development that could be noticed was total loss in creativity. In the more advanced stages, the patients would develop fear, anxiety, mental confusion, uncontrolled weeping, anger, irritation and rage, Dr. Ayodhya explained.
