People wearing masks are expected to cross a road in Shibuya District on February 2, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.
Tomohiro Ohsumi | Getty Images News | Getty Images
SINGAPORE: The world may not be ready for an impending wave of dementia and the additional cases Covid-19 could produce, according to a group representing more than 100 associations of Alzheimer’s and dementia worldwide.
Alzheimer’s Disease International urges the World Health Organization and governments around the world to “urgently accelerate research into the potential impact of COVID-19 on rising dementia rates.”
It is said that the pandemic could cause a significant increase in the number of patients with long-term dementia, as some research has shown that covid infections can increase the likelihood of developing dementia and cause the symptoms of dementia to appear earlier.
Dementia usually refers to a deterioration in the brain that affects memory, thoughts, behavior, and emotions. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and there is currently no cure for dementia.
In the short term, “dementia rates may drop temporarily as a result of the high number of deaths of people with dementia due to COVID-19, with a percentage of between 25 and 45% of all deaths due to COVID-19 is loved as people with dementia, “the London-based group said in a statement to the media on Wednesday.
But in the longer term, the number of people with dementia “could increase significantly due to the neurological impact of COVID-19,” he added.
Since the coronavirus first emerged in China in late 2019, more than 217 million cases of Covid-19 have been reported – and more than 18 million have been detected in the last 28 days, according to official data collected by Johns Hopkins University.
The actual number of Covid cases worldwide is likely to be higher than reported. This is due in part to factors such as lack of evidence to detect infections and insufficient ability to report cases.
Greed and dementia
More should be done to understand the link between Covid dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) said.
“Many dementia experts around the world are seriously concerned about the link between dementia and the neurological symptoms of COVID-19,” said Paola Barbarino, chief executive of ADI.
The group’s medical and scientific advisory group, made up of global experts on dementia, has set up a working group to study this link and make recommendations on how to deal with the problem.
Dr. Alireza Atri, a cognitive neurologist and chairman of the advisory panel, said he is “especially concerned” about the effects of the so-called long Covid. This includes symptoms such as loss of taste and smell, “brain fog” or loss of mental clarity, as well as difficulty concentrating, memory and thinking, he added.
Atri, who is director of the Banner Sun Health Research Institute in the United States, explained that Covid can damage and coagulate micro-vessels in the brain, damage the body’s immunity and cause inflammation.
This can provide “easier access to things that can damage the brain” and cause symptoms of neurological disorders, such as dementia, that appear earlier, the doctor said.
Wave of dementia cases
The World Health Organization estimates that around 50 million people have dementia worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases each year.
Even before Covid-19, forecasts showed that dementia cases could increase from 55 to 78 million by 2030, according to ADI. The costs associated with dementia, including medical care and expenses, could rise to $ 2.8 trillion a year, the group added.
“We urge the WHO, governments and research institutions around the world to prioritize and commit more funding for research and resource establishment in this space, to prevent them from feeling overwhelmed by the upcoming dementia pandemic.” , said Barbarino.
A better understanding of the link between Covid and dementia may help authorities monitor rising dementia prevalence and identify symptoms as soon as possible, Barbarino said.
“Knowing the warning signs and symptoms of dementia allows people to seek more information, advice and support, which can lead to a diagnosis,” he said.
“We need people to be aware of the possible link between long-term COVID and dementia, so that they know how to control their symptoms and detect them.”