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WHO / DEMENTIA
STORY: WHO / DEMENTIA
TRT: 1.56
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT CATHY GREENBLAT FOR STILL IMAGES
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 10 APRIL 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
FILE - RECENT, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1.Wide shot, exterior Headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO)
10 APRIL 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2.Med shot, Dr. Shekhar Saxena looking at report
3.Med shot, poster
4.SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Shekhar Saxena, World Health Organization (WHO):
"There are 35 million people having dementia currently in the world and this number is going to grow very rapidly. It will become about 70 million in 20 years time."
FILE - WHO - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, AUGUST 2011
5.Various shots, outdoor Tai Chi lessons for older people
10 APRIL 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Shekhar Saxena, World Health Organization (WHO):
"Since dementia affects the brain, it starts affecting the way we function right from the beginning. To begin with, it might affect the higher functions that we do, for example our job, our financial affairs, the way we make decisions, our judgement, and all that. But later on, if it progresses, it starts affecting our day to day functioning. Even simple things like eating, getting around from one place to another, recognizing people, and even looking after our personal hygiene. And when it reaches that stage, the person can become very dependent."
DATE UNKNOWN, INDIA - PLEASE CREDIT CATHY GREENBLAT
7. Still, man suffering from symptoms of dementia
DATE UNKNOWN, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - PLEASE CREDIT CATHY GREENBLAT
8. Still, woman diagnosed with Alzheimer's
DATE UNKNOWN, KYOTO, JAPAN - PLEASE CREDIT CATHY GREENBLAT
9.Still, aide hugging a group home resident
10 APRIL 2012, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
10.SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Shekhar Saxena, World Health Organization (WHO):
"Generally families don't want to see it and make the people with dementia part of their everyday life as well as social events. And that is very harmful for the people with dementia, and also for society in general. Institutionalization is not the solution, people with dementia should stay within the families and carers need to be supported to look after these people as well as their own lives."
DATE UNKNOWN, MONACO - PLEASE CREDIT CATHY GREENBLAT
Still, ninety-year-old Alzheimer patient painting a kite together with young girl
DATE UNKNOWN, UNITED STATES - PLEASE CREDIT CATHY GREENBLAT
Still, Alzheimer patients at a LaughterYoga session
DATE AND LOCATION UNKNOWN - PLEASE CREDIT CATHY GREENBLAT
Still, elderly woman and carer making music and laughing
The World Health Organization (WHO) today (11 April) launched its first report on dementia, urging public health planners to pay more attention to a disease that will affect a growing number of people.
In an interview in Geneva, Dr. Shekhar Saxena of WHO said that the report, developed in collaboration with Alzheimer Disease International, gives figures for the prevalence of the disease and predicts a big increase over the next decades.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Shekhar Saxena, World Health Organization (WHO):
"There are 35 million people having dementia currently in the world and this number is going to grow very rapidly. It will become about 70 million in 20 years time."
Saxena stressed that dementia is not the same as normal ageing. With ageing, there are some changes in our memory and cognitive functions, but dementia is a much more rapid decline, because of clear pathologies in the brain.
Dementia, he said, affects our capacity to live the life that we live every day, including our personality, our day to day functioning, and the way we relate to people and to the environment.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Shekhar Saxena, World Health Organization (WHO):
"Since dementia affects the brain, it starts affecting the way we function right from the beginning. To begin with, it might affect the higher functions that we do, for example our job, our financial affairs, the way we make decisions, our judgement, and all that. But later on, if it progresses, it starts affecting our day to day functioning. Even simple things like eating, getting around from one place to another, recognizing people, and even looking after our personal hygiene. And when it reaches that stage, the person can become very dependent."
Saxena said the burden on family members caring for those with dementia could be very severe, and called on governments to help in looking after the needs of people with dementia, but also the needs of people who are looking after their affected friends or family.
According to WHO, dementia affects people in all countries, with more than half - 58 percent - living in low- and middle-income countries. By 2050, this is likely to rise to more than 70 percent.
One of the key messages of the report was that people should learn to identify anybody who might be in the initial stages of dementia early enough to get a proper diagnosis and receive help from the health and social care system.
But stigma is a big problem, Saxena said.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Shekhar Saxena, World Health Organization (WHO)
"Generally families don't want to see it and make the people with dementia part of their everyday life as well as social events. And that is very harmful for the people with dementia, and also for society in general. Institutionalization is not the solution, people with dementia should stay within the families and carers need to be supported to look after these people as well as their own lives."
These photos are courtesy of Professor Cathy Greenblat, taken within the context of a cross-cultural photographic project on ageing, dementia, and end of life care. The images aim to show that people with dementia who are treated as whole human beings in positive environments can still give and receive love, and share moments of hearty laughter.
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