Nearly 300,000 Romanians have dementia, and the number could reach 400,000 by 2050

In Romania, approximately 300,000 people currently suffer from dementia, a degenerative condition of the nervous system that affects memory and behaviour. According to cited estimates, by 2050 the number of Romanians affected by this disease could reach around 400,000.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for between 60% and 70% of all cases.

The exact causes of Alzheimer's disease are not yet fully understood; however, specialists indicate that the contributing factors include age, genetics, environment, and lifestyle.

Sebastian Iovan, General Manager of Eli Lilly Romania Cluster, explained: "Alzheimer's is a disease, a degenerative condition of the nervous system that affects memory, thinking, and behaviour. It is essentially a gradual disconnection of the person from reality. Symptoms appear gradually and, at first, will be easy to overlook — we forget where we put our keys. The signs can very easily be mistaken for the natural signs of ageing, but the disease progresses rapidly."

One important issue highlighted is that of costs: half of the direct medical costs associated with this disease are borne by the patients' families themselves.

With regard to prevention and maintaining general health, doctors recommend restful sleep, a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and maintaining active social relationships with those around us.