A FAMILY member is suffering from Alzheimer disease, a medical condition that causes memory loss or dementia.

Although still strong at 80 plus, our patient demonstrates weird behavior – he thinks every beautiful woman he sees is his former girlfriend.

In our special family gatherings lately, we don’t invite pretty relatives or guests to stop him from making a scene. That’s the funny side of the coin.

The problem is that he also travels alone without the knowledge of the family. He would be gone for days only to be found the moment a barangay personnel calls us to verify if we are relatives.

We got calls from barangay offices in Cavite, Pasig, Bulacan and even as far as Mindoro this year. Thanks to the local government units that cared for him.

But what if he falls into wrong hands?

To address the matter, the family hired a full-time caregiver. Her job is to stay with the old man all the time. No untoward incident has happened since then.

Our patient is not alone. There are many people with such illness that is far more serious.

According to the latest report of the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of Alzheimer’s patients in the world may reach 139 million by 2050,

There are currently more than 55 million Alzheimer’s patients worldwide. That number is expected to rise to 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050, based on the report.

On Sept. 21, World Alzheimer’s Day is observed to raise awareness about the disease, which is on the rise in the elderly population worldwide and to support those who are affected by it.

Every year, thousands of people die globally due to Alzheimer’s disease, a medical condition that causes memory loss or dementia, and a general decline in cognitive functions due to the death of brain cells over time.

More than 60 percent of Alzheimer’s patients live in low- and middle-income countries, and 10 million new cases are added each year.

There is no known definitive treatment method for the disease, which is defined as a neurodegenerative disorder accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms and behavioral changes characterized by a decrease in daily activities and deterioration in cognitive abilities.

According to the WHO, Alzheimer’s disease is the seventh most common reason of death worldwide, and the number of patients is forecasted to nearly triple by 2050.

There is currently no treatment available to cure or slow the progression of dementia. However, numerous new treatments are being tested in clinical trials at various stages.

Research shows that people can reduce their risk of dementia by exercising regularly, avoiding smoking and alcohol use, controlling their weight, eating healthy, and maintaining their blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.

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