The article starts with an introduction about the recent release of a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) named ‘Global status report on the public health response to dementia’. The report assesses the progress made so far towards the Global Dementia Action Plan’s 2025 global targets, launched in 2017.
Understanding Dementia
Dementia is a syndrome, typically chronic or progressive in nature. It leads to the deterioration of cognitive function, which is the ability to process thought, more than what would be expected from the usual consequences of biological aging. Dementia affects memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, language, learning capacity, and judgment abilities. However, it does not impact consciousness. It is noteworthy that women make up for 65% of total dementia-related deaths and experience about 60% higher disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to dementia compared to men.
Symptoms and Causes of Dementia
Notable symptoms of dementia include memory loss, difficulties with thinking, visual perception, self-management, problem-solving, language, and focusing. Personality changes like mood swings, depression, paranoia, and agitation may also occur. Dementia may occur when brain cells are damaged. Potential causes of such damage include head injuries, strokes, brain tumors, or HIV infections.
Treatment Limitations
At present, there is no definitive treatment for curing dementia. However, several new treatments are being researched in various stages of clinical trials around the world.
Global Scenario
Ranking seventh among all diseases, dementia is a significant cause of death. It stands as a major cause of disability and dependency among older individuals globally. Over 55 million people, equivalent to 8.1% of women and 5.4% of men over 65 years old, live with dementia. This statistic is projected to increase to 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050. The highest number of people with dementia are in the WHO’s Western Pacific Region (20.1 million), closely followed by the European Region (14.1 million).
The WHO’s Response
The WHO has launched the ‘Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025’, which serves as a comprehensive blueprint for addressing dementia. A Global Dementia Observatory has also been established to ease the monitoring and sharing of information on dementia policies, epidemiology, service delivery, and research. They’ve also released the ‘Guidelines on Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia’, offering evidence-based recommendations on reducing dementia’s modifiable risk factors. The Mental Health Gap Action Programme assists generalists, especially in low- and middle-income countries, in providing first-line care for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders.
Indian Initiatives
In India, the Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society calls for a government plan or policy on dementia, insisting on its implementation across all states, funded, and monitored by the health ministry. The National Health Mission envisions universal access to equitable, affordable, and quality health care services that are responsive and accountable to the people’s needs.
