Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) are encouraging everyone to "Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer's" in honor of World Alzheimer's Month.

The capacity to detect the warning signs of dementia and seek out information, advice, and support can assist people with Alzheimer's disease get a fast diagnosis and early intervention.

Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be a complicated and time-consuming process that differs widely from country to country. Furthermore, because dementia is still stigmatized, many patients wait until later stages of the disease to seek a diagnosis.

According to projections, the number of dementia patients will increase from 55 million to 78 million by 2030, with yearly costs reaching $2.8 trillion.

Although global awareness of dementia is improving, Dr. Hanadi Al-Hamad, Qatar's National Lead for Healthy Aging and the National Dementia Plan, explained that knowledge of specific disorders such as Alzheimer's and other diseases that cause dementia remains low.

She has been a vocal proponent of raising public and professional awareness in order to help people with Alzheimer's disease, their families, and communities.

Research indicates that COVID-19's neurological influence on the brain can raise a person's risk of acquiring dementia as well as the rate at which dementia-related degenerative changes develop in the brain.

According to the CEO of ADI Paola Barbarino, there is a need for people to realize the possible connection between long-COVID and dementia. This will allow individuals to monitor themselves and check for symptoms in a timely manner.

Barbarino noted that knowing the warning signals of dementia and learning more about the link between COVID-19 and dementiais critical for developing a global plan and national responses.

The importance of understanding the link between emerging infectious illnesses and progressive neurological problems has been demonstrated in previous pandemics.

“It is incredibly important that the public, especially those people at risk of developing dementia, know about the potential impact of long-COVID on their brain health, and measures are put in place to protect them. We need the WHO, governments and research institutions to prioritise and dedciate funds to the research needed to better understand the link between COVID-19 and dementia,” says Barbarino.

“Globally healthcare systems are already unprepared for the forecast increases in dementia cases, prior to this new COVID-19 related risk. We need only to look at previous pandemics to see the vital importance of research and preparedness.”

“Dementia is not going away. We need to act now to be prepared for any additional pressure following the COVID-19 pandemic,” she added.

For more information on ADI, please visit their website.

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Source: HMC