As Pakistan continues to evolve and progress, there is a silent yet devastating struggle that often goes unnoticed – the rising prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease. This insidious condition not only affects the individuals living with it but also places an immense burden on families and caregivers. Alzheimer’s Association, in its report published in 2015, stated that Alzheimer’s disease is on the rise in Pakistan because of the country’s aging population and a shift in lifestyle.
Similarly, nearly 850,000 people are aged in Pakistan and suffering from dementia disease. If it will leave unnoticed, nearly 1.3 million people may likely to be affected with this disease by 2030 and 3.6 million by 2050. The given numbers are yet underreported, and the magnitude of the problem would be greater than the reported ones. Unfortunately, there is no state-ownership for such patients in existing welfare system of Pakistan, however, few institutionalized care services are being provided through private organizations.
It has been noticed that over 60% of Alzheimer and dementia disease sufferers live in low-income countries, making up about 55 million people worldwide. People over the age of 65 are predicted to increase to 78 million by 2030 and 139 million by 2050 as the Global Population Age. The scarcity of data would worsen the available facilities for the patients in the near future.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects memory and cognitive function. It is the most common cause of dementia globally, and Pakistan is no exception to this trend. As the country’s population ages and life expectancy increases, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s is expected to rise significantly. The impact of Alzheimer’s disease is far-reaching. It deeply affects the individuals diagnosed with the condition, robbing them of their memories, independence, and eventually, their ability to perform daily tasks.
Moreover, family members and caregivers face tremendous emotional, financial, and social burdens while caring for their loved ones with Alzheimer’s. The lack of public awareness and stigma associated with mental health further compounds the challenges faced by these families. The complexity of the disease is a major obstacle for provision of specialized care services to the patients.
US Department of Health & Human Services (USDH&HS) defined that Alzheimer’s diseases is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks due to lactate. Lactate is a bi-product constantly produced in the body during normal metabolism and exercise. Alzheimer’s patients and such type of disease are happening due to higher lactate levels. Lactate was previously thought to be a waste substance, but now the recent research justified empirically that it has positive as well as negative influences on the brain.
There is evidence to support the idea that lactate dehydrogenase (Ldh) transcript amounts are enhanced in the heads of aged people. These transcript levels were accompanied by increased Ldh protein, enzyme activity, and lactate concentrations. Ldh amplification reduced lifetime in all cell types, whereas Ldh downregulation increased lifespan. Additionally, Ldh overexpression disturbed circadian locomotor activity patterns and did not decline brain quickly. Reduced levels of Ldh in neurons and slowed the onset of age-related neurodegeneration.
Still, only neuronal Ldh overexpression was associated with a reduced capacity to ascend Ldh expression was manipulated in neurons or glia of young transgenic flies, and all of these flies showed normal memory in comparison to controls. An interesting solution for the Alzheimer’s patient, such as, memory was affected in middle age, but it was restored in old life, suggesting that only flies with elevated glial-derived Ldh expression had an effect.
For instance, such types of experiments could be applied to human beings as well. In brief, flies age has continuous disruption of lactate metabolism which leads to neurotoxicity and acceleration of health weakening among Pakistani people. Lactate levels seem to affect memory in a cell type-specific and dynamic manner. Memory is harmed only in the latter years of life by too much glial-derived lactate. Therefore, lactate synthesis in neurons and glia is slowed or increased, depending on the situation, leading to an earlier onset of ageing and neurodegeneration.
Lactate metabolism and the metabolic interaction between neurons and glia must focus on future research into age-related disorders, including development of Alzheimer’s disease.
Summing up, the burden of Alzheimer’s disease in Pakistan demands immediate attention and collective action. As the population ages, the prevalence of this neurological disorder will continue to rise, impacting individuals, families, and society as a whole. The extensive research on the disease is the first step toward developing data-driven, indigenous policymaking on Alzheimer’s disease. Using fruit fly for the treatment of Alzheimer’s patients is one such window of opportunity for Pakistan to advance on addressing the disease more efficiently.
In addition, by increasing public awareness, investing in research, and providing caregiver support, we can create a more compassionate and inclusive society for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. With concerted efforts from all stakeholders, we can tackle this challenge head-on and improve the lives of those living with Alzheimer’s in Pakistan.