Esther Ebenezer

Title : Breakthrough in Dementia

Abstract:

Alzheimer’s dementia is a neurodegenerative disorder that commonly affects the elderly was first described in 1906. Since then over a century researchers and medical professionals have made remarkable advances together with various organisations and fund providers in developing novel drugs and searching for a cure.

Alzheimer’s consists of two main pathologies extra-neuronal beta amyloid plaques deposits and intra-neuronal breakdown of individual neuron due to abnormal tau protein. There are other postulates like deposition of magnetic iron oxide, immune mediated process and even Human Herpes virus infection having a part in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s dementia.

Many developed countries commonly practice the identification biomarkers such as Tau and Beta-amyloid proteins in CSF, identifying high risk gene like APOE4, functional neuroimaging rather than based on mere history. This will aid in making early diagnosis before the destruction of neurons, track the disease progression and monitor treatment effects especially in clinical trials of disease-modifying drugs.

Numerous clinical trial had been conducted to find a cure for Alzheimer’s dementia but unfortunately all turned out to be not suitable. Most recently dementia prevention study using antibodies to beta amyloid and tau protein are being carried out but awaiting for the results which will be out in 2 to 5 years’ time. There are still many Phase I, Phase II and Phase III studies ongoing and hope to see a breakthrough in the drug therapy for dementia.

Meanwhile it is vital to stay healthy embracing healthy lifestyle with proper diet control, exercising regularly, remain cognitively stimulated and managing the metabolic and vascular risk factors well which had shown positive cognitive outcome.

What will audience learn from your presentation?
• The progress that had come through since the terminology Alzheimer’s Disease came into place since 1906.
• Developments made in the etiology, diagnosis and treatment evolved, yet adopting healthy life style is vital for everyone.

Biography:

Prof. Dr. Esther Ebenezer is the Professor in Psychiatry at UniKL Royal College of Medicine Perak. She obtained her Master in Psychological medicine from University Malaya and Fellow in Old Age Psychiatry from the University of Western Australia, Perth. She started the ‘Memory Clinics’ in University Malaya Medical Centre in 2004 and in Hospital Ipoh during 2006. Prof. Dr. Esther is the Chairperson of the Dementia Society Perak since 2010 and started the state’s first Dementia Daycare Centre. She is well known for her work on dementia and currently working on the ‘Ipoh Model of Care for Dementia’. She is instrumental in building Malaysia’s first purpose-built person centred BebeLEC day centre for People with Dementia. Her dream is to build a Dementia Specific Residential Home. She is also an EXCO member of the Alzheimer’s disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM). She had published many articles and invited speaker for many occasions nationwide and in overseas conferences. Prof. Dr. Esther is actively involved as Principal Investigator in many research and clinical trials with new drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other psychiatric disorders.