A local Alzheimer's awareness group is calling for Government to treat dementia, which reportedly affects more than 17,300 people locally, as a national health priority.

On September 21, Alzheimer's associations across the world will be celebrating World Alzheimer's Day with organised activities to raise public awareness.

The theme for World Alzheimer's Day is 'Diagnosing Dementia: See it Sooner'.

It is estimated that, globally, more than 30 million people live with dementia. Of this number, a large proportion of persons are not given a diagnosis.

This means many do not get access to the care and treatment they need.

Collective namem

Dementia is a collective name for the progressive degenerative brain syndrome which affects memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion. Alzheimer's is the most common cause of dementia.

"With the rising numbers of persons being diagnosed with dementia and who are living with dementia, it means the costs for care is also rising," Alzheimer's Jamaica said in a release.

"The cost of medication is expensive and many persons with loved ones diagnosed with the disease can hardly afford to purchase medication which will slow down the progression of the disease."

Alzheimer's Jamaica also lamented that medication for dementia is not covered under the Jamaica Drugs for the Elderly Programme and that community clinics and hospitals need to improve the quality of care meted out to persons living with the condition.