Neurologists in Bahrain are urging the country to adopt a national development plan to combat dementia, after a report by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) revealed that most countries in the Middle East either have no such protocols, or have made very little progress in implementing them.
The ADI report stated that nearly three million cases of dementia were recorded in 2019, with the number expected to rise to around 14m by 2050, an increase of 367 per cent, the highest of any region in the world.
A top Bahrain-based neurologist has suggested that the increase may ironically stem from a higher quality of life.
“Dementia gets more common with age,” said renowned Royal Bahrain Hospital neurologist Dr Sanjay Totlani.
“Our living standard in Bahrain has improved substantially over the past few decades and people are living longer than before. The longer someone lives, the higher the chance they will suffer from dementia. The longer life expectancy therefore means more patients.
“We have no national plan in place and the inevitable increase will pose a challenge in the future unless dealt with.”
Dementia is an umbrella term for mostly progressive diseases that affect memory and other cognitive abilities and behaviour, interfering with a person’s ability to live a normal life.
Studies demonstrated that it is becoming a prevalent condition in Arab countries, ranging between 1.1pc and 2.3pc among ages 50 years and older, and between 13.5pc and 18.5pc among ages 80 years and above.
Bahrain had an estimated 5,126 cases in 2019 and it is estimated to increase to 60,650 cases by 2050, an alarming increase of 1,084 per cent.
Underreporting and lack of diagnosis in the Middle East, has made projections for the region, with its fast-growing population, far higher than elsewhere.
In the GCC, Kuwait and Qatar have developed a national plan, however ADI has voiced concern over funding issues, while Oman and the UAE have only held initial meetings. No information is currently available on Saudi Arabia.
There are two types of diagnosed dementia – Primary and Secondary.
Primary dementia is a natural degenerative process, and while it can be slowed down by medication if caught early, it is irreversible and incurable.
Secondary dementia is usually the result of an underlying condition, such as vitamin deficiency or brain tumour, and can be treated as it more often than not only mimics dementia.
A national action plan would help patients and their carers receive the care and support they need to live comfortably, medics believe.
The goal is to improve the lives of patients while decreasing the impact of dementia on them as well as on local communities.
Dr Totlani believes that such a plan would go a long way to help patients in Bahrain now and in the future.
“It can help patients detect the condition at an early stage,” he said. “While we cannot cure primary dementia, early detection means we can potentially slow it down using medication.
“It could also help educate people on what signs to look out for such as unnatural memory loss and sudden behavioural changes.
“We can do tests and scans to determine if the person has the disease, and if so, use the proper medication to slow it down.”
Dr Totlani, however, recognises the challenges that come with adopting such a plan on a national scale, acknowledging that it would be no easy feat, especially when it comes to a disease like dementia.
“A big issue comes with the fact that a majority of the cases are primary,” he said. “On top of that, while we have methods to look for symptoms, there are no tests validated for dementia specifically.
“There is a research on biomarkers in spinal fluids going on to help detect the disease with greater accuracy but it is yet to be approved.”
He explained that the main reason of dementia being so difficult to treat was due to the fact that it kills off brain cells.
“Once a brain cell dies, it cannot regenerate. Nothing is in the patient’s control,” he said.
“It affects their daily lives, their executive functions. It is not easy to live with it and patients require a lot of care.
“Adopting regulations will be difficult, but it is very much needed, regardless,” he said.
He also urged families of dementia patients to seek medical advice as soon as signs of the condition develop.
“The person is not going crazy,” he said. “Come to the doctor, and let us make the diagnosis so we can discuss the next possible steps, but most importantly, do not neglect them.”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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