Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), dementia is an umbrella term for a variety of conditions that impede memory, cognitive functioning, and the ability to carry out everyday activities. Dementia is a neurodegenerative condition caused by a range of illnesses and injuries to the brain; it is currently the seventh most common cause of death worldwide and is one of the primary determinants of disability among the elderly.
In 2015, there were 9.9 million new cases of dementia around the globe, with one person being diagnosed every three seconds. Additionally, 46.8 million people worldwide were living with dementia in 2015, and this number is expected to almost double every 20 years according to the World Alzheimer’s Report.
In response to the concerning rise of dementia cases, The Medical City launched its Center for Memory, Learning, and Thinking (MeLT) during the celebration of Neurology Week 2023. The Center for MeLT was created to help lessen the impact of dementia and other neurological diseases through the promotion of early diagnosis, where early detection and timely interventions are the key.
The Medical City’s Institute of Neurological Sciences’ (INS) objective for the center is to detect dementia cases as early as possible to avoid the severity of the disease. “Our objective here is to fight dementia. It means that if we have diagnosed the patient early, the burden will be lesser,” Dr. Grace O. Orteza, Head of the Center for MeLT, explained.
Additionally, awareness campaigns and activities at the Center for MeLT are also beneficial to help stop the stigma on mental health. “Activities like this are important to make the public understand that they are not being insane, that dementia or Alzheimer’s, which is a type of dementia, is a disease that needs to be diagnosed and treated,” Dr. John Jerusalem A. Tiongson, Director of INS added.
The center caters to people aged 50 years old and above, regardless of whether they have cognitive, behavioral, or functional issues or none. But adults of any age who complain of memory loss or related cognitive problems, with a strong family history of dementia, and with illnesses that predispose to memory and cognitive impairment such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, post-hypoxic or anoxic encephalopathy, and post neurosurgical procedure are also accepted for screening.
To convince the public for screening and early detection of dementia, the institute believes that people need to be aware about the disease.
Dr. Orteza stated, "They need to be aware of the disease because early screening means prevention. We partner with the Wellness and Aesthetics Institute because the concept of wellness means that even if you do not have the illness yet, you will incorporate something to prevent getting sick.”
The screening package of the center includes physical and neurological exams, interviews with the patient and informant, assessment of functional status, screening for memory and cognitive dysfunction, as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms, and referral for specialty consultation. Moreover, it also includes recommendations for further diagnostic procedures, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, and additional diagnostic tests.
Patients or individuals interested in early screening must be accompanied by a qualified informant who has first-hand knowledge of the patient's actual capacity at baseline, during decline (if present), and at their current state in terms of cognition, behavior, and functional capacity. The patient must also be able to communicate in either English or Filipino and should be able to use their dominant hand for writing, copying, or drawing.
For more details on how TMC’s Center for MeLT can help you or your loved ones, contact (02) 8988-1000 local 6269.