KARACHI: As World Alzheimer`s Day is being observed in the country on Thursday (today), health experts have warned the disease is rapidly spreading globally, including in Pakistan, which affected an individual every 60 seconds.

The people at the age of 65 and above are affected by seven per cent while those over the age of 75 are likely to beaffectedby10-15pc.`If the disease is not treated timely it becomes incurable,` an expert warned.

Alzheimer`s disease or dementia causes problems with memory, thought process and behaviour.

According to an estimate, by 2050 people affected with the disease would be 135 million worldwide, which would affect millions of families. Dementia is also called ancestral disease and is one of the six reasons of deaths mentioned in a WHO list.

President, Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation (NARF), Prof Mohammed Wasay said the elderly population of Pakistan stood around eight million which made the country sixth largest in terms of aging population.

`There is no authentic figure available for cerebral diseases including dementia,`he added.

He said dementia was curable but due to lack of awareness people failed to understand its symptoms and often associated it with old age. Vitamin B 12 deficiency causes memory loss.