As World Alzheimer’s Day approaches on Monday 21 September, researchers and clinicians are highlighting the importance of early diagnosis, community support and hope.
Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that gradually damages the brain, affecting the way cells communicate and making it harder for people to remember, think and carry out daily activities.
As of this year, there are 4322 people living with dementia in Logan. This number is expected to rise more than 81% to 7839 by 2054. Alzheimer’s disease is typically the most common cause of dementia. Although not everyone living with dementia has Alzheimer’s.
Your Lifestyle Centre Beenleigh respite care manager, gerontologist and clinical neuropsychopedagogue Daniela Russo said working close with older people, carers and families in Beenleigh had taught her that Alzheimer’s was more than just a health conversation.
“It is a conversation about identity, family, community, independence and how we want to be treated as human beings when our brain begins to change,” Ms Russo said.
Ms Russo World Alzheimer’s Day was an opportunity to challenge the way society saw people after a diagnosis.
“A diagnosis may change someone’s life, but it does not erase who they are,” she said.
“We need to see the person before we see the condition.”
“Sometimes the greatest support isn’t doing something extraordinary. It is continuing to treat someone as the same human being you knew before the diagnosis,” she said.
Ms Russo said throughout her work, it was people that gave her hope.
“I have seen repeatedly that even when certain cognitive abilities change, the human need for connection remains.
“I see families learning new ways to communicate. I see carers who arrive exhausted beginning to laugh again. I see older people socialising, singing, sharing stories, helping one another and continuing to contribute to their community.”
She said those moments remind her why dementia care should not be built entirely around what someone has lost.
“We should build it around what remains possible.”
“There is life after diagnosis. There can still be connection, humour, learning, relationships, contribution and purpose,” Ms Russo said.
“Keep learning. Keep moving. Keep connecting. Keep having a purpose. Because caring for our brain shouldn’t begin only when something goes wrong.
“Brain health is a lifelong conversation. And when Alzheimer’s does enter someone’s life, our responsibility as a community is not simply to remember for them.
“It is to make sure they continue to belong.”
Alzheimer’s Research Australia research director Ralph Martins said Alzheimer’s disease was the number one killer in Australia.
One of the key messages this World Alzheimer’s Day is the importance of recognising early signs and seeking medical advice as soon as possible.
“Early diagnosis is important because that enables an earlier intervention… in the last three years, we now have what we call disease modifying drugs,” Professor Martins said.
“The disease modifying drugs are targeting the underlying cause. The underlying cause is the build-up of this toxic protein that’s called beta amyloid.”
He said while significant progress had been made in understanding Alzheimer’s, more research was essential to develop better ways to diagnose, treat and eventually prevent the disease.
“We’ve been looking at a blood test for Alzheimer’s so, we can now see changes in the blood that reflect the build-up of amyloid in the brain,” Professor Martins said.
While research continues to offer hope for the future, Professor Martins said acts of kindness and understanding could have a great impact on those living with Alzheimer’s.
“Continue inviting the person to social occasions. Speak directly to them rather than automatically speaking to the person accompanying them. Give them time to answer.
“Don’t rush their words. Try not to constantly correct small mistakes. Be conscious of overwhelming noise and environments. And, most importantly, don’t disappear because you don’t know what to say… the person is still there,” he said.
Professor Martins said it was important to continue to include people living with Alzheimer’s.
“Just because they are diagnosed with the disease, doesn’t mean that it’s all over,” he said.
Although Alzheimer’s remains one of Australia’s greatest health challenges, there is growing optimism about the future as researchers continue working towards more effective treatments, Professor Martins said.
“[On 1 August], there was an announcement that Roche had now been given a blood test that can be used in Australia…
“That’s very exciting. So, people can go and get screened, [symptoms] can be picked up much earlier,” Professor Martins said.
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