BEIRUT: The first nationwide study into dementia was launched Thursday at the American University of Beirut in collaboration with Denmark, the U.K. and the U.S. The study’s findings are expected to be released within a year.

Thursday’s launch was held under the patronage of Lebanese Health Minister Ali Hasan Khalil and in the presence of Danish Ambassador Jan Top Christensen and U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly.

Almost 10 percent of the Lebanese population is above the age of 65, putting them at increased risk for dementia. Within the Arab region, Lebanon has the highest percentage of adults older than 65, a figure estimated at 9.6 percent in a 2007 survey by the Lebanese Central Administration of Statistics.

The study will provide a reliable estimate on the number of Lebanese living with dementia, and an assessment of their needs, according to Monique Chaaya, from AUB’s Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, who is leading the study, along with Gunhild Waldemar from the Danish Dementia Research Center in Denmark.

The long-term goal of the study is to conduct a study of 2,500 people over the age of 65, and selected randomly from all governorates of Lebanon with the aim of finding information about the incidence, prevalence, risk and protective factors specific to the Lebanese population, and the barriers to treatment and care for people with dementia.

“Dementia is rarely acknowledged by the public as a disease,” said Walid Ammar, the director-general of the Health Ministry. “Most consider it as a natural part of aging.”

But, he added, dementia should be viewed as a major cause of disability in later life and be included alongside chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. “We hope to raise awareness about dementia.”