A new study from European researchers has found that long-term exposure to high-cholesterol
diets may significantly increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, although the researchers
caution the disease is affected by many factors. Over 25 million people around the
world have Alzheimer’s Disease, and as life spans increase, so will the numbers of
people with the disease.
“Alzheimer’s Disease is very prevalent,” says Dr.
Martin Bednar. “In fact, we are on the verge of an epidemic.”
Dr. Bednar is
the clinical lead at Pfizer for an Alzheimer’s project. He told Vatican Radio many
people have the disease without even knowing.
“The disease starts many, many
years – even decades – before you actually have these symptons.”
Dr. Bednar
is in Rome for a one-day conference on Thursday at the Pontifical Lateran University
entitled “Ethics, Aging, and the Coming Healthcare Challenge” Co-sponsored by the
Pontifical Council for the Family and the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion
and Liberty, the conference is discussing how different advances in science and society
affect what it calls “inter-generational” solidarity.
Dr. Bednar says different
disciplines must come together to tackle all the challenges posed by Alzheimer’s Disease.
“For
society to cure this, it will require a multi-factorial approach,” he says. “It will
require priests and clergy to appropriately guide us in the care for the elderly…[also]
making sure countries spend appropriately…we need to make sure the appropriate funding
is set aside.”
Listen to Martin Bednar's full interview with Charles
Collins: