[Dementia] There are nearly 10 million new cases worldwide every year, bringing a heavy economic burden
As we age, memory loss may be common. However, abnormal decline in thinking, orientation, understanding, calculation, learning, language and judgment abilities also occurs, which may be a symptom of cognitive impairment. According to research by the World Health Organization, dementia is a rapidly increasing public health problem, with nearly 10 million new cases every year, affecting nearly 50 million people worldwide. It is expected that by 2030, the number of patients will triple to more than 1.5 Billion people, the cost of caring for patients with dementia and medical expenses also bring a heavy financial burden to the patients' families and society.
It is generally believed that dementia is a health problem exclusive to the elderly, but this is not the case. According to a report by the Hospital Authority, the number of patients with dementia under the age of 65 seeking treatment in public hospitals increased from 4,600 to 5,400 between 2014 and 2016. Similar studies in foreign countries have shown that about 30% of patients with dementia develop before the age of 65, which is defined by the medical community as "early-onset dementia." The Chinese University established the world's first Chinese "early-onset Alzheimer's disease" research registry. According to data, the youngest patient was only 38 years old when he developed the disease. Most patients with early-onset Alzheimer's disease are related to family inheritance. If one parent has the related gene, the patient's children will also have a half chance of developing the disease. It can be seen that dementia is a health problem that everyone needs to pay attention to.
Most patients with dementia are unable to take care of themselves in daily life and require close care from their family members, who bear the burden of time, physical strength and mental burden at the same time. Family members may even have to give up their jobs to take care of patients, causing financial problems for the family. According to the Hong Kong Elderly Care Report survey, the social cost of elderly care will increase by 30% to HK$126 billion in 20 years.
15-Minute Cognitive Health Risk Assessment
There is currently no cure for dementia. Early detection is the best way to formulate preventive measures and plan financial arrangements. HSBC Insurance and the Lutheran Social Service of Hong Kong jointly launched the HSBC Insurance "Seniors Together" event, which provides "fully automated retinal image analysis - cognitive health risk assessment" and completes the assessment report in 15 minutes. Actress Hui Yinghong, whose mother suffers from Alzheimer's disease, also underwent "fully automated retinal image analysis" to eliminate concerns about the disease. As someone who has experienced this, she said that taking care of her sick mother brought a lot of life and financial pressure, and she advised everyone to make arrangements as soon as possible to ensure a high-quality life.
Source: Hong Kong 01
