Name of Principal Investigator:       DR FAZEAN IRDAYATI HJ IDRIS

Name of Co-Principal Investigator: DR HASHMET PARVEEN GHOUSE

Alzheimer disease (AD) is associated with memory loss and is a huge economical problem. Patient with AD is not able to work and has to be taken care. The costs of one Alzheimer patient can exceed B$ 100,000 a year. Brunei as a developed country has an increasing life expectancy. Therefore AD is an existing and as well an upcoming problem for this country. The diagnosis is mainly done by neuropsychological testing. Despite of an explosion of interest in imaging techniques, no current imaging method can diagnose AD early for the better management of the disease. The aim of this project is to optimise a protocol, which would lead to early diagnosis of AD. In collaboration with Krankenhaus Frankfurt Nordwest, Germany and Jerudong Park Medical Center, Brunei, we successfully conducted a feasibility study and now running the main study to apply this protocol to AD patients.      

With the aims to create awareness about the significance and impact of AD as a disease burden within the ageing population of Brunei Darussalam, to instil community recognition and provide possible channels of support for this disease, World Alzheimer Awareness day was celebrated in September as part of health promotional activities of PAPRSB Institute of Health Sciences. 

The outcome of this research project has been presented at international conferences such as at the regional young scientist’s scientific forum (Brunei), ASEAN Neurology Congress (Brunei), European Society for Neuro-Radiology Conference (Germany) and Society for Neuroscience Conference (USA).The research project is funded by the Brunei Research Council.

This research project is expected to complete in 3 years and the main target population is between 45 to 65 years old because memory loss in patients outside this range maybe caused by factors other than AD. Our team is now actively recruiting for about 100 participants.