Alzheimer's Disease: A Major Health Concern for the Region
By Mahatma Davis, Editor-in-Chief | ArabMedicare.com

In a Special Interview for ArabMedicare.com, Diane Mansour, President of the Alzheimer's Association Lebanon talks about the need for greater awareness about Alzheimer's Disease and its impact on the Arab World.

Diane Mansour, president, Alzheimer's Association Lebanon (center)

December 5, 2004-- (ArabMedicare.com News) Diane Mansour, President of the Alzheimer's Association Lebanon, a nonprofit organization established in January 2004, has made a career out of raising the level of awareness about Alzheimer's Disease in the Arab World, and in particular, in her home country of Lebanon. As president of the association, her role is to work with healthcare professionals, government bodies, and the public to help educate and address the needs of people afflicted with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. With an estimated 1.5 million people in the Arab World suffering from Alzheimer's disease, the need is truly great and requires immediate attention by health officials and the general public to help remove the social stigma that is usually associated with the disease.

The exact causes of the disease are not yet known, but the biological process has been identified. Alzheimer's destroys cells in the brain, which in turn disrupts the transmitters that carry messages to the brain (in particular those responsible for storing memories).

Scientists have also identified a number of risk factors. Age is one of the most significant factors. The chances of being affected are fewer than 1 in 1,000 under the age of 65 years old, and 1 in 5 over the age of 80 years old. This clearly suggests that the risk increases with old age; although the youngest person reported to have Alzheimer's is only 30 years old. Other risk factors include injuries to the head (i.e. people who sustain injuries to the head, and lose consciousness like boxers) and a genetic connection - families who have a genetic history of dementia.

Since the founding of the Alzheimer's Association Lebanon, Mansour has been a prolific spokesperson for raising awareness about the disease. What follows is her response to the current challenges and progress being made in Arab countries.

ArabMedicare.com: How did you first get interested in this field?

Diane Mansour: My personal experience after the diagnosis of my mother, and the lack of resources and support in the Lebanese society both professionally and socially led me to research in the field of Alzheimer's disease. It gave me the chance to get in contact with other associations; whose main objectives are to support caregivers and raise public awareness to help provide better quality of life to Alzheimer's patients and their families. It gave us the incentive to establish an Alzheimer's association in Lebanon.

ArabMedicare.com: What do you like about this field of specialty?

Diane Mansour: To witness the positive impact of our activities on caregivers and the positive changes in the public outlook obtained through our awareness programs.

ArabMedicare.com: What are the more challenging aspects of this work?

Diane Mansour: The most challenging aspects of this work lies mainly on reducing stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health in our society; in addition to the positive impact on the lives of caregivers and Alzheimer's patients.

Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging; it is a devastating disease that affects patients and their families in a very painful manner. Families are in great need of support, empathy and comprehension. Society is indebted to Alzheimer's patients to offer them a good quality of life, dignity, and respect.

ArabMedicare.com: What are some of the changes you have seen over the years?

Diane Mansour: It has only been one year, so far with the establishment of the Alzheimer's Association Lebanon. Yet the results are obvious through the satisfaction of caregivers and the changes in their day-to-day tasks coping with the disease and providing better quality of life to Alzheimer's patients after attending our meetings and applying our information.

ArabMedicare.com: In your view, just how large a problem is Alzheimer's disease in Lebanon and the Arab World?

Diane Mansour: An estimation of around 30,000 cases in Lebanon and more than 1.5 million cases in the Arab World are numbers large enough to be given close attention. However the disease is highly underreported. For example, in Lebanon, only 1,000 cases out of the 30,000 (estimated) have been reported.

ArabMedicare.com: What are some of the barriers to promoting greater awareness to the public about the disease in Lebanon?

Diane Mansour: Raising funds to support the time and efforts required to promote and deliver programs and activities.

ArabMedicare.com: What are some of the programs provided by the Alzheimer's Association Lebanon?

Diane Mansour: The association is very active on several levels providing:

- Regular monthly meetings offering education and support to caregivers to help them cope with their tasks.

- Public meetings targeted at the public at large, throughout different areas in Lebanon, to raise awareness in society.

- Workshops targeted at professionals in nursing homes to enhance the quality of life of Alzheimer's patients in existing homes.

ArabMedicare.com: What is the annual budget by the Lebanese government to help treat patients with Alzheimer's disease?

Diane Mansour: There is no annual budget by the Lebanese government allocated to help treat patients with Alzheimer's disease. However, all our activities are encouraged and supported by the Ministry of Public Health, the Lebanese Order of Physicians and the World Health Organization.

With people now living longer in the Arab World, the number of people affected by Alzheimer's is now large enough to be given close attention and proper funding.


For more information about the Alzheimer's Association Lebanon visit their web site at:  http://www.alzlebanon.org/

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