Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a condition in which there is a significant decline in brain function, thus impeding thinking and daily life skills. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for at least two-third of dementia cases in persons aged 65 and above. In Alzheimer’s disease, there is a gradual deterioration of brain function affecting memory. understanding, language, attention, reasoning, and judgement. ¹

Approximately 1 in 10 individuals in Singapore who are above 60 years of age experiences dementia. ²

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease vary with the stage of the disease. Alzheimer’s disease has three stages: Early, mild, and advanced (dementia) stages, which depend on the level of cognitive decline. ^1,3

Early sign of Alzheimer’s disease: ^1,3

Symptoms of mild and advanced Alzheimer’s disease: ^1,3

If you or someone you know is having trouble with memory or clear thinking, consult a doctor. The doctor will ask questions and perform tests to understand the symptoms. They might also recommend seeing a specialist like a neurologist for further evaluation. ³

Visiting your doctor can clarify if your symptoms are from Alzheimer’s disease or a treatable condition such as vitamin deficiency or medication side effects.

An early and accurate diagnosis allows you to plan financially, make advance directives that involve legal documents, and prepare for care needs with your family. ⁴

Medical care can enhance the lives of those with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. While there is no cure, treatment aims to maintain brain health, handle behavioral issues, and slow down disease symptoms. ^1,3,4

Diagnosis

Before prescribing the medications, the physician will perform the following diagnostic methods to help determine if the person has Alzheimer’s disease: ⁵

CT: Computed tomography; MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging; PET: Positron emission tomography

Medication

There are several medications approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: ^1,6,7

Interventions

The Singapore government has implemented various interventions and support measures to assist both individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers: ²

Community support and resources for caregivers

Caregiving for dementia patients can be challenging, but assistance is available: ⁸

For additional resources, visit the Agency for Integrated Care website at https://aic.sg/.

References

1. Kumar A, Sidhu J, Goyal A, et al. Alzheimer Disease. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499922/. Accessed on: 6 November 2023.
2. Ministry of Health (MOH), Singapore. Speech by Associate Professor Kenneth Mak, Director of Medical Services, Ministry of Health and Member, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine Governing Board, at The Launch of The Dementia Research Centre Singapore. MOH. Available at: https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/speech-by-associate-professor-kenneth-mak-director-of-medical-services-ministry-of-health-and-member-lee-kong-chian-school-of-medicine-governing-board-at-the-launch-of-the-dementia-research-centre-singapore-25-april-2022-10.30am. Accessed on: 6 November 2023.
3. What Are the Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease? National Institute on Aging. Available at: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-signs-alzheimers-disease. Accessed on: 6 November 2023.
4. What is Alzheimer’s Disease? | CDC. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/aginginfo/alzheimers.htm. Accessed on: 6 November 2023.
5. How Is Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosed? National Institute on Aging. Available at: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-alzheimers-disease-diagnosed. Accessed on: 7 November 2023.
6. How Is Alzheimer’s Disease Treated? National Institute on Aging. Available at: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-alzheimers-disease-treated. Accessed on: 7 November 2023.
7. Lum ZK, Suministrado MSP, Venketasubramanian N, et al. Medication compliance in Singaporean patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Singapore Med J. 2019;60:154–160.
8. Poon NY, Ooi CH, How CH, et al. Dementia management: A brief overview for primary care clinicians. Singapore Med J. 2018;59:295–299.

About Frontier Healthcare Group

Frontier Healthcare (as part of the Qualitas Primary Care Division) runs 18 GP clinics, 2 Family Medicine Clinics (Clementi and MacPherson) and has 37 affiliated GP clinics under its Frontier Primary Care Network Program. Frontier Healthcare supports national schemes such as the Community Health Assist Scheme (Pioneer, Merdeka, CHAS Green, CHAS Orange, CHAS Blue), Baby Bonus, Healthier SG, MBS@Gov etc, as well as partnerships with major Insurers, Corporates and TPA partners to bring quality and affordable healthcare closer to the community.