This September 21 marks World Alzheimer's Day and at Canary Doctor, with the collaboration of our AFATE friends, we will review a series of data on Alzheimer's in Canary Islands.
According to an AFATE report, this disease could affect 50% of the Canarian population over 85 years of age.
Before starting to talk about Alzheimer's in Canary Islands, it is important to note that:
- In the absence of data from the real population affected in Canary Islands, to estimate the number of people at risk, we use the prevalence index established for this disease.
- This index is of -7% for the population greater than 65 years y 50% for the population greater than 85 years.
- These prevalence rates are established by CEAFA (Spanish Alzheimer Confederation)
- The population data taken into account for this study are the published in 2019 by the Canary Institute of Statistics, ISTAC.
Now that we know the origin of the data shared by AFATE ("Association of relatives and caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias of Tenerife", with action in more islands), it is important to remember the why of this study.
Sharing this type of data is a way of raise awareness about a disease that affects many Canary families. And what better than this week, when World Alzheimer's Day is celebrated, to do so.
We begin ...
What are the data on Alzheimer's in Canary Islands?
In Canary Islandsthere are 331. 530 seniors of 65 years (148. 010 men and 183.520 women) and 40. 702 (13.784 men and 26.918 women) people over 85 years.
If we apply the aforementioned prevalence rates, we can estimate the following data on Alzheimer's in Canary Islands: there are 23.2017 people over 65 years of age with the disease or at risk of suffering from it and 20.351 people over 85 years of age in the same situation.
Based on the previous data, we can say that there is a greater number of women than men affected by the disease. This data is due to the fact that there are more women than men; and greater longevity of women compared to that of men. in fact, the number of women over 85 years on each island almost doubles that of men, and not a reason for sex linked to the disease. This is common with the rest of the world population.
By islands, The island of Tenerife is the one with the highest number of people with the disease or at risk of suffering from it; but in the absence of a real census of cases registered with the disease, these data are due to the fact that this island currently has the largest population.
How many people affect Alzheimer's in Canary Islands, by province?
Based on the same statistical assumption described at the beginning of this analysis, we can say that:
- In the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, this disease could be affecting 11.789 older than 65 years and 10.780 older than 85.
- In the province of Las Palmas, those diagnosed could add 11.417 in the age group corresponding to those older than 65 and 9.571 in the older group of 85.
In addition, depending on whether cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's type dementia:
- It is estimated that only in Tenerife senile dementia of the Alzheimer type affects 7% of the population over 65 years. This is equivalent to 10.112 from Tenerife. In older than 85 years, the figure rises to 8.815, with a prevalence close to 50%.
- Also in Tenerife the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is 20% in people over 70 years. In total, it is estimated that it affects 20.353 men and women.
- The total number of patients older than 70 years with DCL in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is 22.356, while in Las Palmas the figure rises to 23.903.
In Canary Islandsthere are 331 people over 530 years old and 65 people over 40 years old
Why is it essential to know the data corresponding to DCL? (Slight Cognitive Deterioration)
Because it is considered a stadium intermediate between the cognitive deterioration typical of normal aging and the most advanced deterioration characteristic of an already serious dementia.
According to the conclusions of a group of experts on the subject, half of people with mild cognitive impairment (DCL), will develop Alzheimer within approximately five years.
For this reason, attend to patients in this “early” stage, is fundamental to avoid that further deterioration Make a dent in your quality of life and that of your family and caregiver environment.
If you know or have a family member with the suspicion of suffering from this disease, they may visit AFATE, seeking advice and guidance. Its wide range of services for family / caregivers and patients, is free.
We leave you a link to a video interview made by our team to the Technical Director of this Association, so you can know their work, areas of action and contact points. You just have to click, here
What conclusions can we draw about Alzheimer's in Canary Islands?
From the data prepared by AFATE, it is necessary to specify that the older population in Canary Islands has increased considerably from 2013 to today.
Punctually, 6 years ago 85 older people added 32.035 people, while in 2018 that figure amounted to 40.702.
It concludes that, with Alzheimer's disease having a prevalence of 50% in this age group, could be affecting 20.351 people at this precise moment.
Ultimately, Talking about Alzheimer's in Canary Islands is important and necessary to raise awareness on time and take action.
Therefore, we invite the population at risk to get informed and take action; Among those that stand out, carry out an early diagnosis of the patients and provide them with a treatment according to their severity.
How can AFATE help Alzheimer's patients and relatives?
We invite you to watch the video interview conducted by Canary Doctor at the AFATE Technical Director, clicking here.
In this interesting interview, Ms. Inmaculada Rodríguez Melián, explains in detail the great work of the Association of relatives and caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias of Tenerife; highlighting that, to this day, they have increased their range of action to other islands.
Without a doubt, this information can be of great interest for patients and family / caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease in the Canary Can you help us share it so that it reaches those who need it?
