The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Recognising dementia crucial to its treatment, say doctors

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Recognising dementia crucial to its treatment, say doctors

Staff Reporter

World Alzheimer Day is an occasion to understand the suffering the disease can cause The disease leads to slow degeneration of important hormone-rich nerve cells.

CHENNAI: Recognising early signs of dementia in the aged could be crucial in helping to relieve some of its symptoms and slowing down progression of the debilitating disease.

Doctors say that Alzheimer's disease, which leads to the slow degeneration of important hormone-rich nerve cells, is the most common cause of dementia. This can cause memory loss, difficulty in performing familiar tasks, problems with language and disorientation to time and place.

World Alzheimer's Day on September 21 is an occasion to understand the suffering the disease can cause, especially in the case of dementia as patients find everyday life difficult. The disease occurs in patients above the age of 65. A person with dementia often behaves inappropriately, for example removing items of clothing in full view of others.

Says Dr. E S Krishnamoorthy, Institute of Neurological Sciences in Voluntary Health Services (VHS), "A person with dementia may do unusual things. For instance, put an iron box in the freezer or a watch in the sugar bowl." The personalities of the patients can change dramatically, from fear and suspicion to rage and temper tantrums.

These uncomfortable symptoms are the reasons why the family needs to be aware of dementia and its harsh effects. Dr. Krishnamoorthy says, "In India, the burden of care falls on the family. Care sharing among family members and periods of respite are important. Dementia strikes the family and not the affected person alone."

Care-giving for the patient could be distressing as the sufferers lose their ability to communicate, thus making the process unrewarding. While there is no medical treatment currently available to cure or halt the progression of Alzheimer's disease, there are some drugs that slow its progression. Neuro specialist A. T. Jotheeshwaran says that non-drug therapies like "cognitive retraining" are useful in the early stages. Plant-based formulations such as curcumin, derived from turmeric, are also showing promise.

Organisations such as Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Society of India (www.indianngos.com/a/alzheimerrelateddisordersociety.htm) and Alzheimer's Disease International (www.alz.org) are useful sources of information and support.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu