Change in lifestyle can keep away Alzheimer's

The risk is quite real given that a survey found that one third of the elderly people in Thailand have dementia, of whom 60 per cent are suffering from Alzheimer's. It is believed a million Thais have been affected by the disease.

"There is no full recovery from the disease," Charan Chakrawanchaisri, acting director of Thailand's Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS), said yesterday.

He was speaking after signing an agreement with the Alzheimer's Foundation to conduct studies in Thailand to explore ways of reducing and preventing the disease in Thailand.

"Some of the Alzheimer's patients have gone missing because they cannot remember the way back home," Charan said, explaining that those affected lose huge tracts of their memory.

"The number of Alzheimer's patients has been rising globally because the life-span of humans has increased," he added.

TCELS is planning to set up a centre where people can be trained on taking care of Alzheimer's patients.

"We have to make necessary preparations now because Thailand is becoming a greying society," Charan pointed out.

The foundation's deputy chairperson, Khunying Uraiwan Sirinupong, is urging people to avoid consuming too much fried and deep-fried food to reduce their risk of Alzheimer's.

"Also, avoid flour and most types of meat," she said. "Fish is okay. Most vegetables are okay. But recommended fruits are apples, guavas, rose apple and pomelo because they are not too sweet."