Press Release

Health advice for World Alzheimer's Day

September 20, 2001

The Department of Health (DH) today (September 20) urged members of the public to learn more about dementia particularly among the elderly and to seek early medical advice for better management of the brain disease.

The appeal was made in support of the "2001 World Alzheimer's Day" tomorrow (September 21). This year's theme is "Diagnosing dementia: the first step to help".

The Assistant Director of Health (Elderly Health Services), Dr Chan Wai-man said: "Dementia is a progressively degenerative disease of the brain. There is a decline in cognitive and intellectual function such as memory, comprehension, learning capacity, ability to think and calculate as well as language and judgement."

"Patients gradually deteriorate with impaired functioning in daily activities. Some patients also have emotional and behavioral problems."

Dr Chan said symptoms of dementia included:

• Early stage --- memory loss with decreased ability to think;
• Intermediate stage --- easily get lost, mood changes and behavioral problems and need assistance in daily activities; and
• Late stage --- language impairment, cannot recognise relatives, may become incontinent and totally dependent.

A recent survey carried out by The Chinese University of Hong Kong showed that dementia affected about four per cent of people aged over 65, with increase in incidence with advancing age.

Persons exhibiting these symptoms and signs should be encouraged to seek medical advice. With early diagnosis and treatment, symptoms of dementia may be better controlled.

Family members may also be more adequately prepared for the manifestations and demands of the illness, and hence be better able to provide the necessary care and support to the elderly.

Dr Chan said that DH's Elderly Health Services had produced pamphlets and useful health education resource materials on dementia.

Visiting health teams of the Elderly Health Services collaborate with other care providers to achieve wide dissemination of elderly health knowledge by using the train the trainer/helper approach. These include health education programmes on dementia for families of the elderly and elderly health care providers.

For more information on dementia, members of the public may call DH's Elderly Health Services 24-hour Information Hotline 2121 8080 or visit the website at http://www.info.gov.hk/elderly