Experts in Oman call for early action to check increasing cases of dementia

Experts in Oman call for early action to check increasing cases of dementia

Ageing populations, lifestyle and environmental risk factors are contributing to these spiraling numbers.

Muscat: With the prevalence of dementia increasing, experts in the Sultanate and wider region MENA have called for early action.

Dementia prevalence in the MENA region is increasing at alarming rates, but progress to tackle the neurodegenerative condition is far too slow, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), the global federation for 105 Alzheimer’s and dementia associations across the world.

The MENA region currently has almost 3 million people living with dementia, with cases set to rise by 367 percent across the region to over 13.8 million cases by 2050 according to the latest estimates, the highest regional increases in the world.

Dr Hamad Al Sinawi, Chairman of the Oman Alzheimer’s Society, and Consultant and Psychiatrist at the Department of Behavioural Medicine at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Muscat, says “The statistics provided by ADI and WHO are concerning, and we need to start acting now. However, the issues faced by MENA countries regarding dementia differ greatly to other regions, which is why national dementia plans need to be localised and tailored to these specific issues.”

“The root-cause problems, which we need to focus our efforts and energy on, are a