An estimated 36,000 people in Albania are living with dementia, while specialists are raising concerns about the condition also appearing at younger ages. In Elbasan, 50 researchers and experts from 20 countries discussed this challenge and presented new findings on the condition at the “Ethics and Dementia” conference.
“Several factors may contribute to the onset of dementia at an early age, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of physical activity and type 2 diabetes. All of these are risk factors. However, the increase in the number of patients is also linked to the ageing of the population and demographic changes. In the European Union, there are several findings that may help in treating this condition, but so far there is no specific cure. Around 200 diseases fall under the ‘umbrella’ of dementia and require specialised treatments,” said Sigurd Lauridsen, a representative of a Danish university.
However, following a diagnosis, it is not only the patient who faces major changes. Dementia also directly affects the family, which often has to adapt its entire life to the needs of the person living with the condition.
“It would be very good for all institutions to come together. There should be a national plan to support these individuals and their families. This is why we decided to organise this conference as an awareness-raising initiative,” said Elona Gaxhja, Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Elbasan.
The impact of dementia also extends to family and emotional relationships. According to psychologists, the changes caused by the condition can affect a person’s behaviour and communication with family members.
“Everything becomes unfamiliar to them. The person begins to become more easily irritated, so often these individuals may become more emotionally aggressive and are no longer able, or do not know how, to show the affection they previously gave to their family members, including their own children,” said psychologist Ilma Toçi.
In Albania, the scale of the issue remains difficult to determine accurately, as the country does not yet have an official registry of people living with dementia. Data from the Global Burden of Disease for 2019 estimated that around 36,000 people in Albania were living with dementia.
According to the same projection, by 2050 the number of people living with dementia in Albania could reach around 87,000. The figures highlight the need for greater support for patients, their families and the services providing specialised care.
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