Health system not adjusted to dementia

World Alzheimer's Day: Dementia is everyone's business

09/21/2014

Almost 1.5 million people in Germany suffer from dementia, but many citizens do not know much about the disease. On the occasion of World Alzheimer's Day, various organizations have called for information about dementia and to prevent it as well as possible.

Number of sufferers will double
Millions of Germans suffer from dementia. Nearly 1.5 million are affected in this country and by the year 2050, the number of sufferers is estimated to rise to three million, unless a breakthrough in therapy succeeds. The motto of this year's World Alzheimer's Day on 21 September: „Dementia everyone can do something“ experts agree. In a joint statement, scientists and various organizations have called for everyone to be informed about dementia and to prevent as much as possible.

Most dementia patients suffer from Alzheimer's disease
The declaration, in which the German Society for Gerontology Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, the Hirnliga e.V. and the German Alzheimer Society were involved, points out that the high and long-term care required for dementia „to one of the most expensive diseases in the health system“ makes. Dementia includes various diseases in which the nerve cells in the brain gradually fail. Affected people often can not remember much, language and motor skills are deteriorating rapidly. According to the German Alzheimer's Association, about 60 percent of people with dementia suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's is currently not curable
„So far, there is no drug that can cure Alzheimer's disease“, explained Prof. Hans-Jürgen Möller from Munich in the statement. „At some point, effective therapy will be available, but when that will be is completely unclear“, said the chairman of the brain league e.V. „Research is proceeding intensively and promising results are emerging“, so the expert. He also stated that „the euphoria disappeared as soon as a cause-related treatment became available“ be. As a researcher, you could only recommend using existing prevention and treatment options. For example, it is known that the treatment of diabetes and hypertension reduces the risk of developing dementia.
Most patients are cared for by relatives
In principle, researchers and physicians agree that the course of the disease, although not stopped, but can be influenced the more positive, the sooner the diagnosis is made. As the experts demand, the treatment should include medicines, non-drug therapies and nursing measures in an overall therapeutic concept. Those affected can live longer self-determined, if the progression of Alzheimer's can be slowed down. The need for care is also delayed. Since most people with dementia are cared for at home, the care mainly affects relatives.

Dementia sufferers must be accepted as members of society
As the experts continue to write in their statement, dementia patients in our society must be accepted as members and their needs perceived by civil society as mandatory. But that was not the health and social care set. Dementia patients not only need a lot of care but also trained staff. „The geriatric care profession already has exactly those skills“, Prof. Dr. Hans Gutzmann. The president of the German geriatric psychiatrist further said: „It has to be preserved and developed.“ Prof. Gutzmann warned against abolishing the profession of geriatric nurse, as federal and state governments plan.

When it comes to dementia, everyone is required
Everyone is challenged on the topic of dementia and Alzheimer's: "The policy that should create a better framework, researchers and doctors to develop new medicines and therapies, and the public to better understand the sufferer". The World Alzheimer's Day also addresses the public. The action day, which takes place on 21 September every year since 1994, aims to draw attention to the disease with a variety of activities in numerous countries. (Ad)