Some 188 persons have officially been diagnosed with dementia in the British Virgin Islands, with the true number likely to exceed 300 based on scientific data.
Minister for Health and Social Development Hon. Vincent Wheatley made the announcement in a recent statement, to commemorate World Alzheimer’s Month.
“According to the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people have dementia worldwide with over sixty per cent of them living in low and middle-income countries. Through the National Health Insurance’s database, the Virgin Islands Alzheimer’s Association found that 188 persons in the Virgin Islands have been officially diagnosed with dementia,” Wheatley stated.
He added, “Data statistics from Alzheimer’s Disease International estimates that worldwide, roughly 75% of dementia cases go undiagnosed. Therefore, it can be reasonably estimated that the number of persons living with dementia in the territory goes above 300.”
Theme “Never too early, never too late”
Wheatley said in recognizing the disease during the month of September, the campaign is pushing the theme “Never too early, never too late”.
“This year’s campaign hopes to underscore the pivotal role of identifying risk factors and adopting proactive risk reduction measures to delay, and potentially prevent the onset of dementia. This includes ongoing risk reduction strategies for persons who have already received a diagnosis,” he stated.
Paradigm shift in perception of Alzheimer’s
The minister also addressed the worldwide paradigm shift of how Alzheimer’s disease is perceived.
He said, “Doctors and patients are beginning to understand that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can start many years before symptoms start to become apparent. Nonetheless, with the global number of people living with dementia expected to triple by 2050, there is a greater need for a more urgent understanding and response to the risk factors associated with this condition.”
Targeting risk factors
With no current cure for Alzheimer’s, Minister Wheatley is calling on residents to heighten their awareness, by paying keen attention to the various risk factors that can lead to the disease.
“We must examine all our personal risk factors and find different strategies to mitigate our risk. New research from The Lancet Commission, a medical journal, indicated that twelve main risk factors over our lifetime can cause dementia and modifying these risks could prevent or delay up to forty per cent of dementia cases. However, it takes advocacy, partnership and the collaboration of public, private and Non-Governmental Agencies to tackle this disease and educate our community, thus slowing prevalence rates within the Virgin Islands so we can keep these numbers from drastically rising,” he explained.
Wheatley also provided some risk reducing tips to residents.
“Consume less alcohol and cease smoking, maintain physical activities, have your hearing checked regularly and use hearing aids if necessary, avoid serious head injuries and take care in sports and motorbike riding from an early age, ensure that all children have access to education and the support and knowledge to maintain a healthy weight through nutrition and exercise, improve sleep and maintain a healthy lifestyle for both brain health and overall well-being [and] monitor all non-communicable diseases,” he stated.
Ministry providing services
The minister also reminded residents of the various services that his ministry provides to assist residents suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
“We currently have the East End/Long Look and Carrot Bay senior programmes which are supervised programmes that promote the socialization of senior citizens with their peers. Studies have shown that feelings of loneliness and social isolation can be common among persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. This can further increase symptoms of conditions like depression and anxiety which can lead to a faster cognitive decline,” he said.
He continued, “In addition, the Social Development Department also provides home care services for elderly persons, which can be accessed by families of persons with Alzheimer’s disease. With this service, the Department provides the highest quality services and care in the client’s residence. This augments the care and services provided by our local hospitals, community-based clinics and other health care facilities.”
Wheatley also encouraged businesses and charities to hold events and raise awareness in their communities of the effects of dementia.