Mental health is one of the topics that is refrained from being discussed as often as it needs to be. However, some days throughout the year as celebrated in an attempt to open discussions about topics. One such event organised to break the stigma, World Alzheimer's Day takes place on September 21 every year.
Alzheimer’s Disease is a form of dementia and is a progressive disorder that causes brain cells to waste away (degenerate) and die. In fact, Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia — a continuous decline in thinking, behavioural and social skills that disrupts a person's ability to function independently.
While dementia is an umbrella term that refers to a decline in mental ability affecting cognitive tasks such as memory and reasoning, Alzheimer’s is its most common variant — an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that destroys memory and thinking skills. About two-thirds of people with dementia have Alzheimer’s.
To understand dementia, it is vital to understand the workings of the human brain. The human brain is one of the most complex organs of the human body with miles and miles of blood vessels working in unison to keep us going every second. As a moment passes, the nerve cells fire up in order to ensure the body's smooth functioning.
However, when these brain cells are damaged and the connection between the cells begins to break down, an individual can develop dementia. To simplify this, it can be said that dementia is a team whereas Alzheimer's is a player.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that 47.5+ million people around the world are living with dementia. According to Apollo Hospital, there are more than 1 million cases of Alzheimer's disease per year in India whereas the hospital states that dementia is a greater concern for the country with more than 10 million cases per year.
One of the leading misconceptions about dementia is that it is a normal part of ageing. The truth is dementia is a result of physical diseases that damage the brain. People also believe that dementia is a disease, whereas dementia is a syndrome; group of symptoms, of which Alzheimer's is the most common form.
Dementia affects 50 million people worldwide, with a new case of dementia occurring somewhere in the world every 3 seconds. So how can dementia be cured? Well sadly, dementia has been deemed as incurable as of now but treatment and support are available for the same is available.
There are numerous care centres for dementia and Alzheimer's in India as well as the city such as,
ARDSI Mumbai Chapter & Smriti Vishvam is one of the famed institutions that offers services to people suffering from dementia. ARDSI has received the International Quality Certificate of Registration ISO 9001:2015 for their quality management systems (reassessment required every year) in May 2019.
Address for SMRITI VISHVAM: Universe of Memory:
DEMENTIA DAYCARE CENTRE
2, Ganesh Niketan No.1, Ground floor
Prof V S Agashe Rd, Opp Lady of Salvation School, Near Dadar Portuguese Church, Mumbai 400028, Maharashtra
Aaji Care has short-stay/ respite care centres for rehabilitation with a mixed profile of residents (some with and some without dementia). They provide services like physiotherapy, nursing, yoga, etc. These centres may also have daycare available.
Address for Aarambh (Facility from Aaji Care):
Powai: Aarambh, Ground Floor, GODS Heaven Building, next to Crystal Palace Complex, Rambaug, Near Powai Police station, Powai, Mumbai
Contact Ms. Milan, Phone: 8899 920930, 9833530842,
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