Symptoms of illness often brushed aside - By By CHAN LI LEEN

Source : The STAR Newspaper

Date : Oct 10, 2007 (WED)

SYMPTOMS of Alzheimer's Disease are often disregarded as signs of old age, making it too late before anything is done to help the sufferer, Datin Seri Wendy Ong said.

Wendy, who is patron of Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM), said knowledge about the disease was limited and many tend to treat the decline in one's mental functions as just growing old.

"In thinking so, help is not sought until the disease has reached an advanced stage.

Its symptoms include recent memory loss, difficulty in performing familiar task, disorientation of place and time, problem with language and misplacing things.

The forum, jointly organised by ADFM and the Perak MCA with Dr Mah Hang Soon as organising chairman, also included free screening of the disease.

Lending support: Wendy (second right) visiting a screening booth during the ADFM public forum. Among those with her is Dr Mah (in batik shirt).

Wendy, who is the wife of Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, said family members inevitably become affected by the emotional and mental changes that a person with the disease goes through.

"Despite that, family members need to be patient and understanding in dealing with the disease," she said.

In his speech, ADFM board of trustees president Datuk Jeffrey Ng Chin Heng said the foundation was looking into setting up another day care centre after the one in Taman Seputeh, Kuala Lumpur.

"We are most willing to set it up in Ipoh if we get a piece of land from the Government or any private organisations," he said.