| James Kon |
BRUNEI had an estimated 2,000 people with dementia, said Vice-President of support group Demensia Brunei Irnawati binti Haji Mahir, citing reports of 2016.
Irnawati said, “There were 46.8 million people around the world living with dementia in 2015, and the numbers will almost double every 20 years.”
She added that dementia is a disease rather than a natural part of ageing.
She made these comments during a recent forum titled ‘New Frontiers in Social Research on Ageing: Implications for Brunei Darussalam’ at the Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Advancement (ILIA) building at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).
The 10 warning signs of dementia are memory loss; difficulty in performing familiar tasks; problems with language; time or place disorientation; poor or decreased judgement; problem with keeping track of things; misplacing things; changes in mood and behaviour; trouble with images and spatial relationship; and withdrawal from work and social activities.
With the increasing number of people suffering from dementia, Demensia Brunei aims to promote more awareness, raise the standards of care for patients, advocate on behalf of dementia patients, their families and caregivers, along with providing information endorsed by the Ministry of Health.
Among the association’s employed strategies are early detection along with diagnosis and educational sessions, while also advocating for the involvement of inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations.
To reduce the risk of dementia, Irnawati advised, “A healthy lifestyle is essential. Look after your heart, be physically active, follow a healthy diet, challenge your brain and enjoy social activities.”
For inquiries, Demensia Brunei can be reached by email at demensia.brunei@gmail.com.