Age dementia in Germany on the rise

Dementia is widespread in Germany: old age dementia is becoming a big problem of society.

(15.09.2010) Dementia is on the rise. In the course of demographic change, millions of dementia patients will depend on the support of society in the future. A challenge which, according to the experts, we are not up to now.

Around 35 million people worldwide already suffer from the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, an incurable disease in which protein deposits in the brain disturb the transmission of stimuli between the brain cells. As a result, the brain cells die, the memory is destroyed and the personality of those affected often changes fundamentally. The symptoms are similar in most dementia diseases: Affected lose the temporal and spatial orientation, become inactive, helpless and need to be cared for around the clock. Earlier knowledge is lost and even the memory of one's own biography disappears. In the case of changes or innovations, patients are often overwhelmed and sometimes react aggressively.

„Unfortunately, our society is (...) not well equipped for the huge scale and dimension of the problem“, said the renowned Cologne neurologist Prof. Gereon Fink. By 2050, according to scientists, around 115 million people with dementia worldwide will suffer from dementia. A challenge also for the German health system. In particular, according to the experts, medicine and care in particular still have considerable deficits in the treatment of dementia patients in this country. This is according to Prof. Fink also „in medical school (...) still very much in trouble.“ Corresponding training of physicians and staff would be helpful in the timely diagnosis of dementia, helping patients stay fit for longer. According to Prof. Fink can be obtained at an early diagnosis up to three years, which the patient later becomes dementia.

The Cologne neurologist also criticizes that it is under „the medical faculties (...) nationwide only six with a chair in geriatrics, the doctrine of aging“ gives. He believes that more institutions are needed, such as the Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, founded in Bonn in 2009, to explicitly focus on dementia research. According to Prof. Fink, the financial support of about 90 percent by the Federal Ministry of Research is a sign of this, „that the federal government is gradually realizing the extent of the problem.“ After all, because dementia affects older people in particular and their share of the total population in Germany will grow massively in the future, according to experts, the healthcare system faces an enormous challenge. „Seeing how our population pyramid is structured reveals that we are entering into a whole host of social and socio-economic problems, “ emphasizes the neurologist Prof. Fink. So far, politics and society are not yet prepared for a problem of this dimension.

An important contribution to dealing with the increasing number of dementia sufferers will also have to be made by the neurologist. Prof. Fink explains that „in Germany (...) about half of the dementia patients at home cared for by relatives“ with considerable support at financial as well as supervising levels. So according to Prof. Fink „the care industry (...) required, but we do not have enough caregivers to look after all the people.“ This is often a heavy burden for relatives, as Sabine Jansen of the German Alzheimer's Association (DAlzG) knows how to report. „This is so exhausting for the relatives that they often become ill themselves,“ explains Jansen. But the care facilities do not offer a good alternative, as the relatives expect staff who are familiar with the disease, but this is according to the DAlzG spokeswoman „Of training often not given“ is.

Since dementia is not curable so far, prevention is the only alternative. According to Prof. Fink, there are already numerous „Studies (...) shows that a high level of education “ as well as „a lively mental activity“ protects against dementia. Also, Norwegian and British physicians currently have the use of vitamin B in patients with „mild cognitive impairment“ (MCI), a type of precursor of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, successfully tested. The daily intake of vitamins B6 and B12 can therefore considerably slow down the death of the brain cells in the mentioned risk patients (up to 50 percent). However, the study director David Smith of the University of Oxford explained that only the long-term effect of the vitamins still need to be investigated to exclude negative consequences. Some vitamins are said to cause cancer at high doses. Therefore, Smith warns against swallowing high doses of vitamins. Another treatment approach of a „American research group sees hopes for how to strengthen a particular enzyme that supports the breakdown of harmful protein deposits“ Prof. Fink explained, however, promising treatment methods are far from being in sight. (Fp)

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