Lok Sabha Question No. 4260 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-13
Subject: Alzheimer Disease
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4260 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 TH DECEMBER, 2019

## ALZHEIMER DISEASE

## 4260. SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the people are becoming victim of Alzheimer disease at a younger age in various parts of the country;
- (b) if so, whether the Government is considering to take any steps to ch eck this disease;
- (c) if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be done; and
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): As per available estimates, India had more than 4.4 million people with Dementi 2015.  Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common cause of Dementia and accounts for 50 to 60 per cent of total demntia cases. Early onset of AD occurs between the age ra nging from the thirties to mid sixties. Onset of AD at a  younger age is unusual and often sug genetic cause. There is, however, no data to indicate that more persons of younger a getting affected with AD in India.
- (b) to (d): Risk for Dementia can be potentially reduced by better management of Diabetes and Hypertension. Government of India is implementing the National Programme for Prevention and Control  of  Cancer,  Diabetes,  Cardiovascular  Diseases  and  Stroke  (NPCDCS)  with  focus  on strengthening  infrastructure,  human  resource  development,  screening,  early  detection  and management of common Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including diabetes and hypertension.  Under  this  programme,  599  NCD  clinics  at  district  level  and  3274  NCD  clinics  at Community Health Centre level have been set up.  Population based screening of persons above 30 years of age for common NCDs including diabetes and hypertension has also been rolled out. Screening for common NCDs is also an integral part of service delivery under Ayushman Bharat Health  and  Wellness  Centres.      Government  is  also  implementing  the  National  Programme  for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE). The major activities of NPHCE include setting up of Geriatric Department in regional Geriatric Centres (RGC) with OPD care services and 30 bedded Geriatric Ward, setting  up  of  Geriatric  units  at  District  Hospitals  to  provide  specialized  Geriatric  Services including  a  10  bedded  Geriatric  Ward,  establishment  of  a  rehabilitation  unit  at  all  Community Health Centres and Geriatric Clinics twice a week, setting up of weekly Geriatric Clinic by trained

Medical  Officers  at  Primary  Health  Centres  and  information,  education  and  communication activities on healthy lifestyle, home care to the bed ridden and supporting devices for the needy elderly persons at sub-centre level.

Further, to address the burden on mental disorders, the Government is implementing National  Mental  Health  Programme  (NMHP)  and  the  District  Mental  Health  Programme (DMHP) in the country.  As on d ate, the DMHP has been approved for implementation in 655 districts.  The Government has also funded   establishment of 25 Centres of Excellence upgradation  of  47  post  graduate  departments  in  mental  health  specialities  of  19  me colleges/mental health institutions to increase the availability of trained manpower in m health  specialities  as  well  as  to  improve  the  tertiary  care  facility.        The  Centra Mental health Institutions and the Psychiatric Wings of the Central and State medi cal colleges also have facilities for early detection and treatment for AD.