Scores of patients register at state’s memory clinics

Mumbai: A month after the state government started with memory clinics to identify signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s among the population, 1,028 patients afflicted by these disorders have registered with them. This initiative was started on October 2, 2018, and out of 30 districts in the state, 28 have registered with the clinics so far.

State health minister Deepak Sawant has implemented the concept of memory clinics across state-run hospitals across the state. Patients suffering fro-m Alzheimer’s and dementia are treated geriatric wards in district hospitals in the state under the initiative.

The number of patie-nts affected by these two mental conditions is on a rise, across the state. Dementia, a major neurocognitive disorder, is a general term used for a decline in cognitive functioning severe enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia is not a disease itself; instead, it is a group of symptoms caused by other conditions that have damaged an individual’s brain.

Dr Nitin Bhalerao, state in-charge for mental health, said, “In their advanced years, elderly people are prone to this ailment. Due to lack of awareness, people are not inclined to take advice or treatment.”

He added, “Elderly people have memory problems but it turns into a matter of concern when they begin to forget their own name and address.”

Stating that these clinics that early detection and treatment can make a vast difference, he said that they have garnered a positive response from the people.