Jakarta (ANTARA) – The non-profit organization Alzheimer Indonesia Foundation (ALZI) invites people in the country to raise awareness of people with Alzheimer’s dementia across generations in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“Collaborative research between the London School of Economics and the University College of London shows that globally about 75 percent of deaths from patients exposed to COVID-19 are people with dementia as a co-disease,” said Regional Director of Alzheimer’s Asia Pacific and ALZI initiator DY Suharya in a written statement received. in Jakarta, Saturday.
In general, dementia is a symptom of a disease that causes decreased brain function. Meanwhile, Alzheimer’s dementia is a decreased brain function that affects a person’s emotions, memory and decision making or is called dementia.
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He explained that age is the biggest factor related to dementia where the elderly or elderly have the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19 with 86 percent of deaths occurring in the age group 65 years and over.
In addition, the current condition of the COVID-19 pandemic also makes many people vulnerable to loneliness, anxiety and depression, including people with dementia (ODD) and caregivers.
However, on the other hand, the implementation of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) also affects the physical and mental conditions of the community where changes in attitudes adopted in new habitual situations indicate an increase in public awareness of brain health.
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Meanwhile, Neurologist and Dean of UNIKA Atma Jaya Dr. dr Yuda Turana said that currently there is an increase in the number of people asking questions about mental health and brain health. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made many of them feel difficult and afraid to come to the hospital or have an in-person consultation.
On the other hand, the health service system that limits companions and the existence of unaccompanied isolation rooms with insufficient numbers of health personnel is a big problem for elderly patients with dementia in hospitals.
He said that in 2016 there are an estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV / AIDS in Indonesia and this figure has the potential to increase to two million people in 2030 and four million people by 2050.
In line with that, the Executive Director of Alzheimer’s Indonesia, Michael Dirk Roelof Maltimoe, added that one of the biggest challenges in disseminating information and raising awareness about Alzheimer’s dementia is the lack of understanding that it is a brain health disorder.
According to the Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) report, every two out of three people still think that dementia or senility is a normal part of aging. In fact, it is important for people, especially young people, to understand the risk of dementia triggers because current living habits affect brain health in the future, so early prevention is needed.
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Reporter: Muhammad Zulfikar
Editor: Triono Subagyo
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