Saudi Gazette Alzheimer's is one of the leading cause of death in the world according to World Health Organization. With no cure near the horizon for this memory and life-taking disease, scientists believe it can be prevented if not treated, though research for it continues. Sajida's 85-year-old father asked her for the seventh time in 15 minutes if the call for Asr prayer has been made in the mosque nearby. She patiently and smilingly replied, “Yes father. The Asr prayer has been called and you have made your ablution and performed your prayers.” Sajida's father is among the 36 million people afflicted with Alzheimer's disease worldwide. She rarely leaves her house for fear that her father may accidentally harm himself if none is by his side. Although, she is baffled by her father's memory too at time, he often recalls tales from his childhood, but cannot remember simple things that happened five minutes ago, like whether he took his medication or prayed. Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and gets worse over time, severe enough to interfere with daily tasks, and may gradually lead to death. The most common symptom of Alzheimer's is difficulty remembering newly learned information. As it advances, symptoms include disorientation, mood and behavior changes; deepening confusion about events, time and place, unfounded suspicions about family, friends and professional caregivers, memory loss and difficulty speaking. “Alzheimer's disease affects two percent of the elderly population in the Kingdom. We want to increase awareness in the society about this disease and create cooperation between governmental and non-governmental organizations to help patients suffering from Alzheimer's. The Saudi Alzheimer's Association has allocated SR 2 million to be disbursed, among the charitable organizations that are taking part in the education, treatment, and care of patients with Alzheimer's and their families,” said Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Magushi, chief supervisor of the Saudi Alzheimer's Association. Al-Magushi told the press that the First International Conference on Alzheimer's will be held in Riyadh on Feb. 20, with the support of Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz. The event will be held at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and will be attended by the Minister of Health, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah and the chairman of the association, Prince Saud Bin Khaled Bin Abdullah Bin Abdulrahman. The three-day conference will have the Social Affairs Minister, Yousef Al-Othaimeen and KACST president Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel as guest speakers. Alzheimer's Disease International's Executive Director, Marc Wortman is scheduled to address the delegates from Arab countries, the US, and Europe. “We aim to spread throughout the country the message that Alzheimer's is a disease and not a normal part of aging. People with Alzheimer's disease must be respected by the community. Care-management will be a serious issue in the foreseeable future as the number of people with the disease is rising rapidly. The Saudi Alzheimer's Association hopes to supply electric beds, wheel chairs and medicines for Alzheimer's patients. We also want to encourage the setting up of more clinics for Alzheimer's patients throughout the Kingdom,” said Al-Magushi. Although current treatments cannot stop Alzheimer's from progressing, they can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms and improve quality of life of the patient and their caregivers. A worldwide effort is under way to find better ways to treat the disease, delay its onset, and prevent it from developing. Some studies show that certain lifestyle practices may delay the onset of this disease. Adults who engage in lots of reading and other hobbies that exercise their brains, such as writing, jigsaw puzzles, or chess, are two and a half times less likely to have Alzheimer's disease. Adults who spend most of their leisure time idly watching TV may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's. A survey of people in their 70s showed that those who regularly participated in hobbies that were intellectually challenging during their adult years refrained from being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This finding supports the popular notion that brain power unused is brain power lost. Regular physical exercise may also protect the brain by improving circulation and thus increasing blood flow and delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. __
