"We know more and more about the risk factors that accompany the development of this dementia, such as insulin resistance, related to a probability up to seven times higher of suffering Alzheimer's". This is highlighted by María Javier Ramírez, Professor of Pharmacology and director of the first online course "Comprehensive approach to Alzheimer's disease", promoted by the University of Navarra.

"We also know genetic risk factors -such as isoforms of certain proteins that multiply by 5 the probability of suffering it- that allow us to advance in a deeper knowledge and, above all, confirm the idea that, although the disease is still incurable, we can help to prevent it if we adopt healthy lifestyle habits", emphasizes this expert, director of the group of Neuropharmacology of Alzheimer's Disease and Depression of the high school of research Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA).

As co-director of the course -together with Dr. Pablo Martínez-Lage, director scientific quotation Alzheimer's Foundation- María Javier Ramírez emphasizes the goal to offer a program aimed primarily at health professionals "that addresses this disease in a comprehensive manner and with great attention to the care of the patient".

Thus, the course will include 10 didactic units on general aspects and the interdisciplinary approach to the disease: primary care and communication with the family - at position by Dr. María Luisa Garcés, from the Navarra Health Service-; on pharmaceutical care - given by Teresa Eyaralar and María García-Mina-; on nutritional care for the sick - from the experience of Elena Moreno, Marisol García and Susana Santiago-; on nursing care - with Ana Canga, professor of this School at the University of Navarra-; position and a last module focused on social care, which will be given by Alfonso del Val -social worker of Valle de Egües- and Idoia Lorea, from association de Familiares de Enfermos de Alzheimer de Navarra, where they will explain the assistance, social and protection resources for people in status of dependence and their caregivers.

800,000 sick people in Spain and 8,000 in Navarre

Considered to be the dementia with the highest incidence in our environment -it is estimated that there are approximately 800,000 patients in Spain and 8,000 in Navarra-, the programs of study on risk factors such as obesity and inflammation are also shedding light on the detection and prevention of the disease. "A article that we have recently published with other researchers from the research center in Nutrition (CIN) of the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition of the University of Navarra indicates that some treatments for obesity could reduce inflammation and, therefore, have beneficial effects on the central nervous system," explains the professor of Pharmacology.

The online course comprises 50 hours of training and is equivalent to 2 credits ECTS credit. It has also been requested to have the accreditation of the training Continuous of the health professions in the National Health System.