World Alzheimer Day: Establish centers & care structures across the country

New structures for support and care for people with dementia are being established throughout the country in the context of the implementation of the National Action Plan on Dementia - Alzheimer's Disease.

This was announced by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, Georgios Giannopoulos, during a press conference conducted by the Alzheimer Society of Athens.

More specifically, Mr. Giannopoulos announced the establishment of 8 Day Care Centers for people with dementia in major cities in Greece, 6 Medical Centers in General Hospitals in the country, 5 hospice care units, as well as the implementation of 10 interconnection programs with local authorities .

For her part, the Honorary President of Alzheimer's Society and President of the National Observatory on Dementia, Neurologist-Psychiatrist Friday Sakka stated that "2017 is also starting to implement the National Plan for Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease, the most powerful tool for addressing the disease and meeting the needs of patients at national level - which we had the honor to participate in. Today we are renewed here with a new dynamic to continue our work even more effectively in the years to come. "

At the same briefing, Nikos Skarmeas , if. Professor of Neurology at the Eginition Hospital, presented the first results of the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD) regarding the prevalence of dementia in the Greek population. This is the first large-scale epidemiological study on dementia in our country, which makes these results very important for the design of disease management actions at national level. According to this survey, the incidence of dementia in Greece is lower by 4.6% than in other European countries, while the incidence of mild cognitive impairment is 11.8% lower. At the same time, the same study shows that the adoption of the Mediterranean diet is associated with better mental performance and lower rates of dementia in elderly people in Greece.

According to the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study (FINGER) to prevent cognitive impairment and disability, physical exercise, proper nutrition, mental enhancement and control of cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, increased cholesterol, smoking, obesity) a decisive role in disease prevention . "The number of people with dementia in our country is expected to increase, mainly due to the increase in the life expectancy of the Greek population and accordingly, the burden of the disease will increase at an individual, social and economic level. For this reason, the widening of our knowledge to prevent dementia is extremely important, and studies such as this are milestones in our effort to optimally manage the disease, "said Scarmeas.

Finally, on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the foundation of the Alzheimer Society, the Honorary President of the Alzheimer Society of Athens and the President of the National Observatory for Dementia, Neurologist - Psychiatrist, Friday Sakka, presented the work and the new corporate identity of the Company.

In the context of the Alzheimer's World Month, the Alzheimer's Society of Athens will take place on September 24, 2017 at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for Culture, an event entitled "Tribute to Memory, Information and Prevention".