The last five years have seen a growth in the number of drugs developed or considered for use in people with dementia, particularly Alzheimer's Disease, which seem to provide symptomatic relief for some patients. Interventions given by family caregivers can reduce the family's distress and that of the person with Alzheimer's Disease, as well as delaying nursing home placement where this is available. Support for those with Alzheimer's Disease and their family can come from different sources but is often limited. The causes are multiple, e.g., trauma to the brain, infections such as encephalitis, parasites and alcohol or other toxic substances. However, in half of cases, the causes remain unknown.
Epilepsy is treated by neurologists when available or by psychiatrists in many other places.
The Pan American Health Organization estimates that around 5 million people of all ages in the Americas and Caribbean are affected by epilepsy. The number of people with epilepsy is over 5 times higher in developing countries than in developed countries. A vast majority of those suffering remain untreated. In our region only 1.5 million of those suffering are identified and properly treated. The percentage of young people, aged 18 and below, suffering from severe mental retardation reaches 4.6 percent in the developing nations and is estimated to be between 0.5 and 2.5 percent for established economies.