Roberto Cidade draws attention to state laws that deal with Alzheimer’s

Purple September

The proposal provides that the individual affected by Alzheimer’s has a support system available to help the family

In time* – 09/15/2023 at 18:2009/15/2023 at 18:20

Manaus (AM) – In Brazil, around 1.2 million people live with some form of dementia and 100,000 new cases are diagnosed per year. Worldwide, the number reaches 50 million people. This scenario, which is mainly due to the aging of the population, demonstrates the need to act on several fronts, with the aim of spreading knowledge and measures that result in a better quality of life. In this sense, state deputy Roberto Cidade (UB) is the author of proposals that propose awareness and mobilization actions about Alzheimer’s disease.

One of these measures, already transformed into law, is nº 6,324/2023, which establishes guidelines for combating Alzheimer’s and other mental illnesses. The proposal provides that the individual affected by Alzheimer’s and other mental illnesses, as well as their legal representatives, have a support system available to help the family deal with the patient’s illness, in their own environment and that there is interdisciplinary care for the clinical and psychosocial needs, as well as encouraging the patient to live as actively as possible.

“Alzheimer’s and other mental illnesses cause loss of cognitive functions, memory, attention and orientation, which compromise the person’s functionality and interfere with the patient’s and family’s life. Our intention, with this law, is to facilitate the monitoring of this patient as much as possible, guaranteeing him a better living condition and that the family has more efficient means to deal with the limitations that these diseases cause. Brazil is older and we need to legislate based on this too, this longevity”,

he stated.

The president of the Legislative Assembly of Amazonas (Aleam) is also the author of PL nº 106/2022, which establishes “Purple September” in the Official Calendar of the State of Amazonas, an awareness month regarding Alzheimer’s Disease.

The proposal foresees that “Purple September” will be aimed at raising awareness and encouraging the treatment of Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The PL also intends to alert the population to the need to adapt their lifestyle in order to prevent this type of disease, for example: doing constant physical activity, improving dietary patterns, maintaining social engagement, eliminating the habit of smoking, treating hypertension, diabetes and hearing care.

“Alzheimer’s causes a decline in cognitive functions, reduces the individual’s capabilities and interferes with the person’s behavior and personality. We need to intensify the population’s awareness of what it causes and how it interferes with socializing with family and friends. The perspective of life has increased and with it the need to adapt and this involves information and the effectiveness of laws that contribute to the citizen. Our PL goes in this direction”,

exemplified.

According to the PL, “Purple September” aims to raise awareness among the population about the importance of early diagnosis for the effective treatment of the disease; in addition to promoting educational campaigns aimed at clarifying doubts regarding the disease, encouraging periodic visits to the doctor to carry out preventive exams, holding seminars, symposiums or congresses and similar activities, with a view to exchanging experiences, treatments and information among professionals in the field.

Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative, progressive disease with no cure yet that mostly affects people over 65 years of age, impacting memory, language and perception of the world. It causes changes in the patient’s behavior, personality and mood. The disease is progressive and symptoms can be divided into three “phases”.