Dementia: A Complex Syndrome |Ias Banenge

Dementia India Alliance (DIA), a non-profit organisation, launched a national dementia support line and DemClinic, an online memory screening clinic.

Relevance:

GS II: Health

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Dimensions of the Article:

1. Dementia: A Complex Syndrome
2. Challenges in Treatment
3. Global Impact of Dementia

Dementia: A Complex Syndrome

• Dementia is a syndrome stemming from various diseases, leading to the gradual destruction of nerve cells and harm to the brain.
• It invariably results in the decline of cognitive function, affecting memory, reasoning, and daily life.

Identifying Signs and Symptoms

• Early Behavioral Changes: Alterations in mood and behavior can manifest even before noticeable memory issues.
• Memory Impairment: Common symptoms encompass forgetfulness, especially regarding recent events, and misplacing or losing items.
• Spatial Confusion: Dementia may lead to disorientation, even in familiar surroundings, and incidents of getting lost while walking or driving.
• Temporal Disorientation: Losing track of time becomes prevalent among those affected.

Challenges in Treatment

• Lack of Cure: Currently, there exists no cure for dementia.
• Supportive Care: The focus lies on offering substantial support to individuals grappling with dementia and their caregivers.

Global Impact of Dementia

• Sheer Numbers: Over 55 million individuals worldwide live with dementia, with a striking 60% residing in low- and middle-income countries.
• Rising Cases: Annually, nearly 10 million new dementia cases emerge.

A Public Health Priority

• WHO’s Recognition: The World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges dementia as a crucial public health concern.
• Comprehensive Response: The Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025, endorsed by the World Health Assembly, furnishes a comprehensive framework for action.

Monitoring Progress

• Global Dementia Observatory: To facilitate tracking the global dementia action plan, WHO introduced the Global Dementia Observatory (GDO), a data hub aggregating country-specific data related to 35 key dementia indicators spanning the action plan’s seven strategic domains.

-Source: The Hindu

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