Casablanca - Raja Battoui
Alzheimer\'s disease
Casablanca - Raja Battoui
The Association for Alzheimer in Morocco celebrated its international day. Members of the Moroccan Association for Alzheimer and Related Diseases organised a ceremony for Alzheimer with the support
of the International Association for disease.
Several figures participated in the ceremony including French writer Fabienne Bill who was infected by Alzheimer since the age of thirty-seven, and Mary Bourgh who is the first Moroccan woman that underwent the challenge of the Seven Summits, in addition to volunteers from Morocco and outside.
Dr. Mustafa Oudghiri, a specialist in internal medicine and science of aging, told Arabstoday that the number of Alzheimer infections in Morocco reached 80,000 based on the estimations of the specialists in the absence of field studies.
Oudghiri said that the number is likely to increase, as the people\'s awareness of the disease is improving which has contributed to early diagnosis and treatment of the patients. The families of patients considered the disease as a natural thing that has to do with the aging process, and in turn does not give importance to the treatment until the patient passes away.
Oudghiri who also served as president of the Association of Science of Aging said that the disease appears mainly amongst those aged 60 and onwards.
This is the result of damaged brain cells. Yet there are exceptions in which the disease can occur at an early age, for instance at the age of 40 or 50. However, this is very rare.
Oudghiri called people not to connect cases of forgetfulness with Alzheimer\'s disease, because this may occur due to other factors. This confirms the Alzheimer infection through several tests and medical examinations.
He said that the disease appears due to the damage of brain cells, and other factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diseases affecting the arteries of the body increase which is a possibility of infection.
The recent report by the World Health Organization said that the number those suffering from Alzheimer and related diseases in the world reached about 6.35 million people, and this number is expected to be doubled by 2030.