The number of dementia cases has gone up drastically. While currently 3.7 million Indians suffer from it, by 2060, more than 5 lakh people will suffer in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh alone,
according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The number of dementia cases has gone up drastically. While currently 3.7 million Indians suffer from it, by 2060, more than 5 lakh people will suffer in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh alone,
according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
These estimates were revealed to DNA by Dr Sharadchandra Gokhale, honorary president, International Longevity Centre (ILC). He quoted the WHO as estimating that the number of dementia patients across the global will double by 2050.
Gokhale said, “It was estimated that by 2010, 3.7 million Indians would suffer from dementia and of them 2.1 million will be females. To identify the markers and early signs of dementia, the ILC initiated a study three months ago. Sample collection is on and ageing profile of citizens will be analysed.”
He added, “Identifying this illness early will help in patient management at home and also get the exact number of people suffering from it in Pune.”
“Dementia can be treated, but has no cure and this makes management of the patients important. This includes geriatric psychiatric care and gerontology, where there is a lack of trained professionals. To educate people about the lack of professionals in this field, a national conference on dementia and Alzheimer’s has been organised in November by the ILC and the Chaitanya Mental Health Care Centre (CMHCC),” said Gokhale.
The ILC, in association with the Chaitanya Mental Health Care Centre (CMHCC), is planning to launch a memory clinic with focus on neurology. “There are many memory clinics in foreign countries, but India lacks them. Gerontology and geriatric psychiatric care is never on the list of the government, which has prompted us at ILC to initiate India’s first clinic this year,” he added.
City-based rehabilitation centre, Jagriti plans to establish a 100-bed dementia centre. “Almost 80% to 90% dementia is of Alzheimer’s type, which affects population above the age of 60,” said Dr Amar Shinde, psychiatrist and director of Jagriti. He told DNA that though the average life span is increasing, the quality of life of patients is suffering. Their cognitive thinking declines and results in
dementia.
“Dementia is basically decline in mental abilities and increase in forgetfulness,” he said.
“The rehabilitation centre that basically helps patients quit addiction, also treats elderly patients with cognitive decline. Of the 20 cases reported every month, at least seven to eight are of dementia. To serve the elderly population, which will require geriatric psychiatric care, a centre consisting of an old age home, dementia centre and a unit for bedridden critical cases will be established soon,” he explained.
“The WHO estimates that the population of elderly citizens will increase to 1.2 billion by 2025 and by 2050 it will be two billion. To serve such a huge population with increased longevity, geriatric care needs to emerge as the most important unit,” he said.
He added, “India lacks psychiatrists including geriatric psychiatrists. This specialty needs an urgent upgradation. Research that can help identify the exact number of the elderly suffering from cognitive decline should be done.”
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