2024-09-20 09:32:46
Diagnosing Alzheimer’s from a multifaceted perspective is important because both diagnosis and treatment are made as early as possible and, therefore, guarantee an improvement in the patient’s quality of life.
EFE/Juan Carlos Cárdenas
This has been explained by the curator of the Department of Neurosciences of Quirónsalud Torrevieja and Alicante, Erika Torres, for whom “an integrated work of neurologists, neuropsychologists, radiologists, laboratory analysts, neurological nurses, rehabilitation, physiotherapists, Speech and occupational therapists are essentially occupational therapists. ” in the treatment of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s, whose World Day is commemorated on September 21, is a neurodegenerative disease that causes cognitive dysfunction associated with short-term memory loss that, at this time, has no medical treatment, which is one of great challenges for modern medicine.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 55 million people suffering from dementia in the world, between 60 and 70% have Alzheimer’s.
In Spain, this disease affects between 2 and 4 people per 1,000 inhabitants per year, but Dr. Torres has warned, in statements to EFE, that the incidence “increases significantly as the age ranges increase, ” so at ages between 60 and In 64 years, the prevalence is between 1 and 8 cases per 1,000 inhabitants, and 60 to 100 cases from 90 years.
In total, in Spain there are around 800,000 people with this disease, as indicated by the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), but this figure could triple in 2050 to reach 3.6 million , according to the Spanish Association of Alzheimer’s and other Alzheimer’s Dementia (Ceafa).
The importance of early detection of Alzheimer’s to prompt treatment
In this context, and in order to implement an interdisciplinary approach, early detection is important to do from the time of diagnosis, “since it has been shown that it is more effective to work on the damaged brain than in the later stages,” Erika Torres statement.
Neuropsychological rehabilitation and working with a work therapist is also important for the patient, not only to increase their work capacity, but also to achieve a better adaptation to their environment and, finally, an improvement in their quality of life.
Add to this the importance of psychological education of patient families and educators, with the aim of “creating appropriate exercises that benefit the patient,” says Dr. Torres, which is why he demonstrates that in Quirónsalud Torrevieja and Alicante They have a cognitive impairment program to guide and support patients and families.
Another important factor when talking about Alzheimer’s is its prevention, because although it is a disease in which the genetic factor, age and sex – a higher incidence in some women than in men – have a significant weight, “It has been revealed in studies in recent years. that there are modifiable factors that can be acted upon to work on primary prevention.”
“Management of cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and obesity” are some of them, for which psychologist Erika Torres has recalled the importance of living a lifestyle that includes regular activity, our intellectual activity and, finally, do “activities that keep our brains active.”
Quirónsalud has collaborated with EFE in the dissemination of this content.
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