The event will be held at the headquarters of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).
Speaking to reporters, SAA chief supervisor Dr. Abdulaziz Almagushi said this is the first time such a conference will be held in the region. “We want to create an awareness about the disease, which has already affected 2 percent of the population in the Kingdom,” he said, adding that besides targeting medics and paramedics who deal with patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease, the association intends to carry out a national campaign in cooperation with nongovernmental organizations in the Kingdom.
Almagushi said at present SAA has a district-wide program in Al-Jouf, Tabuk, Madinah, the Eastern Province, Riyadh and Al-Qassim. Similar programs will be extended to Makkah and Abha.
With the help of nongovernmental organizations, SAA hopes to supply electric beds, wheel chairs and medicines for Alzheimer's patients.
On the sidelines of the forthcoming conference, SAA will sign three agreements with King Saud University, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz Medical University of the National Guard and Alfaisal University. “They will be our strategic partners in our national campaign,” Almagushi said.
Almagushi, who is also the assistant director general of the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Foundation, said the SAA is keen on making people aware of the disease and how to help them treat such patients at an early stage. “We also want to encourage the setting up of more clinics for Alzheimer patients throughout the Kingdom,” he said.
The three-day meeting will be attended by Prince Saud bin Khaled bin Abdullah bin Abdulrahman, who is chairman of the organization.
Deputy Interior Minister and honorary chairman of SAA Prince Ahmed, Social Affairs Minister Yousef Al-Othaimeen and KACST President Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel are slated to address the gathering at the inaugural ceremony. Alzheimer's Disease International Executive Director Marc Wortman is also scheduled to address the delegates at the opening of the conference. Several speakers from the United States and Europe are expected to participate in the conference.
Alzheimer's disease is one of many causes of dementia, an impairment in memory and thinking that is severe enough to affect an individual's ability to function in daily life. Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are subtle at first and may be identical to those associated with other causes of dementia.
Alzheimer's disease begins with a mild, slowly worsening memory loss. These initial symptoms typically develop over a period of years and may be subtle. The disease progresses at different rates in different people. Over time, people with the disease lose their ability to think and reason clearly, make judgments, solve problems, communicate, concentrate, remember useful information and take care of themselves.
As the disease progresses, changes in personality and behavior can develop. Individuals may experience anxiety, agitation, paranoia, delusions and hallucinations.
