{"id":441128,"date":"2025-09-21T14:48:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T14:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/441128\/"},"modified":"2025-09-21T14:48:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T14:48:18","slug":"early-detection-is-the-key-to-battling-alzheimers-abu-dhabi-doctors-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/441128\/","title":{"rendered":"Early detection is the key to battling Alzheimer’s, Abu Dhabi doctors say"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a> in women remains dangerously underdiagnosed despite major breakthroughs in research and care, experts have told The National. <\/p>\n

While science is transforming how the disease is managed, caregiver support and sex-specific diagnosis are still lagging behind \u2013 especially for women, who make up the majority of patients. Now a movement is building in Abu Dhabi to change that.<\/p>\n

Hanan Sheikh Ibrahim<\/a>, a staff physician in neurology at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Neurological Institute, said evolving science is transforming the way the illness is viewed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a revolution now in Alzheimer\u2019s management,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is no longer a terminal illness. It is a disease we can manage \u2013 and you can reduce the risk. Alzheimer\u2019s is now detectable and up to 40 per cent preventable and manageable, but only if we detect it early.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her comments about the need to raise awareness on the issuewere made against the backdrop of World Alzheimer’s Day, taking place on Sunday, September 21.<\/p>\n

Women at the epicentre \u2013 but often overlooked<\/b><\/p>\n

Worldwide, at least 55 million people are believed to be living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.<\/p>\n

Dr Ibrahim said women are both more vulnerable and more likely to be overlooked for testing.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor every three people with Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a>, two are women,\u201d she said. \u201cYet women are diagnosed, on average, three years later than men. Millions are being missed worldwide because their early symptoms are dismissed as menopause or stress.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is not just a clinical gap \u2013 it is a structural blind spot, she said.<\/p>\n

Why gender specific tools matter<\/b><\/p>\n

Globally, the majority of Alzheimer\u2019s research over the past century has been conducted in male animals or male-predominant cohorts. <\/p>\n

As a result, the distinctive trajectories of women\u2019s cognitive ageing have remained obscured \u2013 until now.<\/p>\n

Women are at the epicentre of Alzheimer\u2019s as patients, caregivers, and advocates. More than 60 per cent of family caregivers for dementia are women, and yet, they are also the ones most at risk for developing cognitive decline themselves.<\/p>\n

Dr Ibrahim said that falling oestrogen levels during midlife create a \u201cneuroendocrine inflection point\u201d that affects the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex \u2013 regions critical for memory and multitasking.<\/p>\n

\u201cMenopause is not only about the ovaries,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is a brain event. We now call it the \u2018menopause brain\u2019 because the changes extend to mood, sleep, memory and metabolism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Women often present with brain fog, slowed task-processing or difficulty multitasking, which can be confused with normal menopause.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey feel ashamed, they think it is hormonal, and they delay getting checked,\u201d she said. \u201cSome are told \u2018it\u2019s all in your head\u2019\u2013 and during those lost years, mild cognitive impairment can silently progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

Different biology, different tools<\/b><\/p>\n

Dr Ibrahim said standard unisex memory tests can fail to pick up early disease in women.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen naturally have stronger verbal memory, so they outperform men and pass the test even when disease is present,\u201d she said. \u201cWe now use female-specific questionnaires, blood biomarkers and imaging pathways to distinguish temporary menopausal brain fog from mild cognitive impairment, which is the reversible stage before dementia.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor decades, animal and human studies were built on male models. Only in 2016 did the US National Institutes of Health mandate sex as a biological variable. When you research the wrong model, you get the wrong results.\u201d<\/p>\n

In response to these gaps, Abu Dhabi has become a pioneer. <\/p>\n

At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, clinicians are piloting the use of Female-Enhanced MCI Detection Tool (FEMCI) and Functional-Adjusted MCI Index (FAMCI), as part of a broader movement towards precision brain health for women.<\/p>\n

Hormones and prevention<\/b><\/p>\n

Oestrogen, she stated, acts as a buffer against memory loss, mood disorders, inflammation and even the way the brain uses energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOestrogen receptors are concentrated in the hippocampus, where memory is formed,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen oestrogen drops suddenly, some women develop symptoms and some progress to disease, depending on their genes and other risk factors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) can help some women if prescribed within a \u201cwindow of opportunity\u201d \u2013 about five to 10 years after menopause but must be carefully stratified.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not a one-size-fits-all treatment,\u201d Dr Ibrahim said. \u201cA good menopause doctor must weigh the benefits for brain health against the risks for cancer or blood clots. Used correctly, oestrogen can support memory, multitasking and even metabolic health.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trials have shown that HRT may preserve brain volume and verbal memory if started early. Abu Dhabi\u2019s clinicians are applying these findings in real-world care.<\/p>\n

The bigger picture<\/b><\/p>\n

She believes the UAE should launch a women\u2019s brain health campaign as ambitious as its breast-cancer awareness drives.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlzheimer\u2019s kills more women than breast cancer,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have done a great job in preventing breast cancer and osteoporosis. Now we need the same urgency for women\u2019s brain prevention. The earlier we intervene, the more lives we can protect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abu Dhabi, she said, is uniquely positioned to lead the region and the world in this space. <\/p>\n

With access to advanced brain imaging, cutting-edge biomarker labs, and culturally tailored digital tools, the city is setting a new global standard for how women\u2019s cognitive health should be protected.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are building a new clinical model here,\u201d Dr Ibrahim said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about treatment \u2013 it\u2019s about early detection, empowerment, and redefining women\u2019s health from the neck up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Five tips for women in midlife to be aware of<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2022 Know your risk factors: family history, sleep apnoea, diabetes, autoimmunity<\/p>\n

\u2022 Track your brain symptoms: memory changes, word-finding, task-switching<\/p>\n

\u2022 Address hormonal transitions early: discuss HRT with a qualified provider<\/p>\n

\u2022 Exercise your mind and body: movement, learning, language, and connection<\/p>\n

\u2022 Do not delay testing: ask for a sex-specific cognitive evaluation<\/p>\n

Dr Nasir Alzbeidi, chairman of the Mental Health Council at Sakina (SEHA) and consultant in geriatric psychiatry and cognitive neuropsychiatry at Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, said early diagnosis remains critical even without a cure.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiagnosis matters,\u201d he said. \u201cIt helps us predict, improve quality of life and safeguard patients and families. Education alone reduces psychological symptoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

While scientists still do not know why the disease strikes some people and spares others, powerful risk factors are clear: diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, alcohol use, poor hearing or vision and low educational attainment. Controlling these can delay onset by decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting Alzheimer\u2019s at 60 instead of 85 is 25 extra years of quality life,\u201d Dr Alzbeidi said.<\/p>\n

New but limited treatments<\/b><\/p>\n

Monoclonal antibody therapies now available in specialist centres target amyloid proteins in the brain and can slow decline by about 20 per cent. But they carry risks such as brain bleeds and must be administered by experienced teams.<\/p>\n

Both doctors stressed that no single blood test or scan is definitive.<\/p>\n

\u201cA positive result on its own can be misleading,\u201d Dr Alzbeidi said. \u201cReversible causes such as vitamin deficiency or thyroid problems must be ruled out meticulously before giving a life-changing label.\u201d<\/p>\n

Community gaps<\/b><\/p>\n

Beyond medicine, the UAE needs to do more to support families.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need Alzheimer\u2019s associations and volunteer-run support groups,\u201d Dr Alzbeidi said. \u201cDoctors have limitations. Families who have lived the journey can share invaluable advice. Other countries have had these networks for decades \u2013 we are a young nation and need to build them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Killing of Qassem SuleimaniMohammed bin Zayed MajlisKilling of Qassem SuleimaniChanging visa rules<\/p>\n

For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that’s changing.<\/p>\n

Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.<\/p>\n

It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.<\/p>\n

The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.<\/p>\n

The first batch – 20\u00a0finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction<\/a>.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.<\/p>\n

More from Neighbourhood Watch:Zayed Sustainability PrizeUAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsThe years Ramadan fell in MayUAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsKilling of Qassem SuleimaniDespacito’s dominance in numbers<\/p>\n

Released: <\/strong>2017<\/p>\n

Peak chart position:<\/strong> No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon<\/p>\n

Views: <\/strong>5.3 billion on YouTube<\/p>\n

Sales: <\/strong>With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification<\/p>\n

Streams:<\/strong> 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.<\/p>\n

Awards:<\/strong> 17, including Record of the Year at last year\u2019s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards<\/p>\n

The years Ramadan fell in MayThe burning issue<\/p>\n

The\u00a0internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment \u2013\u00a0major manufacturer\u00a0Volvo\u00a0is to stop\u00a0producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021\u00a0and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040.\u00a0The National\u00a0takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read part four:\u00a0an affection for classic cars lives on<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Read part three:\u00a0the age of the electric vehicle begins<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Read part one:\u00a0how cars came to the UAE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mohammed bin Zayed MajlisCompany profile<\/p>\n

Name: Infinite8<\/p>\n

Based:\u00a0Dubai<\/p>\n

Launch year: 2017<\/p>\n

Number of employees: 90<\/p>\n

Sector: Online gaming\u00a0industry<\/p>\n

Funding:\u00a0$1.2m from a UAE angel investor<\/p>\n

KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANINeil Thomson \u2013 THE BIO<\/p>\n

Family:<\/strong> I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.<\/p>\n

Favourite music:<\/strong> Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father\u2019s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.<\/p>\n

Favourite book<\/strong>: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.<\/p>\n

Favourite film:<\/strong> The Greatest Showman.<\/p>\n

Favourite holiday destination:<\/strong> I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it\u2019s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.<\/p>\n

Favourite food:<\/strong> I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.<\/p>\n

Key facilities<\/p>\n