How Good Education Helps Reduce Dementia Risk -Senior Psychiatrist, Dr Tomi Alalade

A senior psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr. Tomi Alalade says good education may help reduce the risk of dementia.

Alalade said studies have confirmed that having a good education and embracing lifelong learning could help reduce dementia risk.

According to the World Health Organisation, dementia is an umbrella term for several diseases affecting memory, other cognitive abilities and behaviour that interfere significantly with a person’s ability to maintain their activities of daily living.

Dementia, WHO stated, is a syndrome in which there is deterioration in memory, thinking, behaviour, and the ability to perform everyday activities.

It noted that while around 50 million people globally have dementia, there are also nearly 10 million new cases every year.

Dr. Alalade said having lower educational status may be a risk factor to having Alzheimer’s disease. Alalade spoke on Morning Crossfire, a live radio programme on Nigeria Info on Thursday. He said:

“It has been shown from studies that going to school or having a good educational status is a bit protective against Alzheimer’s. Though, the risk rises as you age however good educational status may be a protective factor to it.”

The psychiatrist also noted that women are more affected by Alzheimer’s than men.

“Because of the life expectancy-females grow older than the males and since we say Alzheimer’s is related to increasing age, that is why we could have more females presenting later in life with Alzheimer’s than the male,”

he said.

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He, however, added that research has shown that oestrogen may help to protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease.

According to him, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of progressive dementia, and having memory loss alone doesn’t mean one has dementia. He added that about 60-65 percent of dementia cases are Alzheimer’s disease.

“In simple terms, dementia means this person can’t remember things the way he used to and there’s a decline in his cognitive capacity,”

he noted.

He explained that other types of dementia are vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and mixed dementia.  

“When someone is complaining that he can’t remember things and it becomes progressive or regular, it could be dementia.

“There could be a problem with speech over time or problem with recognising body parts, there could be a problem with language but majorly, it is the progressive decline in memory function that is common.”

Alalade noted that age is a risk factor for developing dementia. He added:

“Generally speaking, dementia occurs in the elderly age group from 60 years and above. However, with early onset of Alzheimer’s disease, it could happen between the ages of 40-65 years.

“Family history could be a contributory factor such that if you have someone in the family that suffers from dementia, it could contribute to you having it.”

READ ALSO: WHO Issues Guidelines To Reduce Risk Of Dementia

He noted that down syndrome is also a risk factor for developing dementia.

“In looking at the symptoms apart from memory, psychosis and undue suspiciousness could also come in.

“For some of them, they may start having hallucinations and they will start hearing strange voices, some may have serious belief, there may also be a delusion.

“For some, there’s a change in their personality because of dementia. There could be a change in the way they relate.

“At some point, there are behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. They could become agitated. They could have urinary incontinence. There could be a decline in their total functioning,”

Alalade said. 

According to WHO the total number of people with dementia is projected to reach 82 million in 2030 and 152 in 2050. This increase, WHO said, is attributable to the rising numbers of people with dementia living in low- and middle-income countries.

The UN agency said there is no treatment currently available to cure dementia or to alter its progressive course but noted that numerous new treatments are being investigated in various stages of clinical trials.

“However, much can be offered to support and improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers and families. The principal goals for dementia care are early diagnosis in order to promote early and optimal management; optimizing physical health, cognition, activity and well-being.

“Identifying and treating accompanying physical illness, detecting and treating challenging behavioural and psychological symptoms and providing information and long-term support to carers,”

WHO stated.