JEDDAH: A specialized society devoted to creating awareness about Alzheimer’s disease might be up and running by March this year after obtaining the approval of the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The proposed name of the organization is the Saudi Alzheimer’s Disease Association, which aims at improving the quality of life of Alzheimer’s patients through care and support; the enhancement of the level of awareness about the disease in the region; helping families who have members suffering from this difficult degenerative disease; encouraging strategic partnership between interested parties; and providing medication and supporting equipment.
Although diagnosing and treatment of Alzheimer’s patients have taken great leaps in the US and Europe, there are no specific or accurate statistics concerning the prevalence of the mind-destroying disease in the Kingdom.
Sahar Al-Tuaijri, a dentist and Alzheimer’s awareness activist, estimates that the number of patients increases every five years among 65 years old, while half of Saudis aged over 85 years suffer from some symptoms related to the disease.
Because modern medicine allows people to live longer than ever before, statistics in the US suggest a growing number of people will contract Alzheimer’s as they live longer on average.
The launching of the Saudi group aims at building a database of Alzheimer’s patients in the Kingdom, in order to collaborate with specialized official bodies, hospitals, medical centers and philanthropic societies to improve and develop the level of supporting medical services and home care services for the patients.
The Saudi Alzheimer’s Disease Association is expected to work hand in hand with international and regional associations and societies to improve their services and participate in the International day for Alzheimer’s on Sept. 21.
