Many countries are home to rapidly ageing populations today and although this is a sign of higher living standards, it comes with issues including health related challenges. One such issue is Alzheimer’s disease, incidences of which are rising globally – including here in Sri Lanka.

In a recent LMDtv interview, the President of Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation (LAF) and professor in psychiatry Shehan Williams referred to it as a “silent epidemic that is slowly eating into the lives of our citizens particularly as we age.”

He outlined the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s: “Dementia is the umbrella term that includes all forms of the condition, which results in what we call a decline in thinking abilities.”

“We usually see it first as a decline in memory when people tend to forget and then increasingly find it difficult to conduct day-to-day activities because of forgetfulness,” he explained.

The reasons for developing dementia are varied – from Parkinson’s disease to vascular dementia, “where people suffer minor strokes or their brain is affected because of a lack of blood supply.”

While some conditions are treatable, the majority are not – such as Alzheimer’s, which is the most common cause of dementia.

Williams stressed the importance of early diagnosis: “It’s important to consult a doctor in the first instance because an investigation may be needed – including blood tests and sometimes further brain imaging.”

“In addition, to confirm that a person has dementia, we would do a memory test where we ask the individual to do certain activities or work with somebody, to test their memory and ability to think and act,” he added.

Since Alzheimer’s has no cure, early detection and interventions are key to delaying its progression – and the latter includes both medical and non-medical mediation.

Sri Lankans enjoy long life expectancies but age is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s. With a rapidly ageing population, it’s predicted that a fifth of the country’s population will be over the age of 60 by 2030.

However, old age does not go hand in hand with forgetfulness.

Williams said: “Memory decline and cognitive impairment are not a part of ageing. We think everybody is going to start forgetting when they age but that’s not true. In fact, you can live till 100 or beyond with a good memory.”

“Physical and mental exercise – they are two of the most important things that we need to prevent Alzheimer’s and its progression,” he noted while highlighting how today’s lifestyles hinder this.

To take preventative measures from a young age, he recommended “cultivating a habit of regular exercise in children and perhaps introducing them to sport, which they can use later in their lives.”

Mental stimulation is also key to keeping the disease at bay. “We need to be socially connected and active,” he stressed, adding that “the more isolated you become, the more rapid the decline in your memory [when you have the disease].”

He offered several recommendations: “It’s all about maintaining a healthy lifestyle so your diet plays a vital role. We must eat healthily, maintain a healthy body weight and keep our BMI within its parameters.”

“It’s also key to detect conditions like blood pressure and diabetes, and treat them. Otherwise, they could lead to further damage to our blood vessels, which impairs the blood supply to the brain,” Williams noted.

Brain related diseases are challenging to overcome, he pointed out: “If we have a heart problem, there are various interventions that will keep our heart going. And if we have hip problems, we can opt for a hip replacement. But when it comes to the final frontier – the brain – there is little we can do to remedy any harm to it.”

“If we live longer, ultimately the brain is the last frontier to give up. So we need to prevent this disease; and even if we can’t, we need to try to keep our brains going healthily for as long as we can,” he advocated.