SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)

What if doctors could catch Alzheimer's years before the first symptom ever appears? With rapid advances in AI and blood analytics, UAE specialists say that future may not be far off.

This World Brain Day - marked on July 22 to raise awareness of brain health and neurological disorders - experts point to a new wave of tools that can detect conditions like Alzheimer's earlier and enable more precise, personalised therapies.

"For the first time, physicians can provide treatments that influence the disease process itself, rather than simply managing symptoms," said Dr Mohammad Ghatali, Consultant Neurologist at the Memory Clinic – Mubadala Health Dubai.

Artificial intelligence, he said, has been a key enabler of earlier diagnosis and personalised treatment.

Dr Nuwan Karunaratne, Consultant Geriatrician at Amana Healthcare, said Alzheimer's care is progressing quickly through blood-based diagnostics, AI-assisted brain imaging, and new targeted treatments.

"There are many exciting developments looking at different pathological processes, which can now be assessed through blood tests or targeted therapeutically," he said.

These innovations are already changing lives in the UAE. Dr Nazir Sharaf, Neurology Consultant at Burjeel Medical City, said patients in the country have ready access to specialist services, advanced diagnostic tools, disease-modifying therapies, and preventive screening programmes.

"These advances are shifting our focus from simply treating neurological disease to preserving brain health throughout life," he told Aletihad.

Dr Ghatali pointed to the UAE's growing investment in early intervention - specialist memory clinics, biomarker testing, advanced imaging, and multidisciplinary care - as evidence of that shift.

"Such innovations are moving Alzheimer's care toward a future where the disease can be detected earlier, treated more effectively, and managed with greater personalisation," he said.

As UAE efforts expand screening, roll out specialised services, and run information campaigns, the progress is reflected in earlier patient action, according to the specialists.

 "There is a shift in public awareness of memory issues, and people are seeking medical review earlier in the disease process," Dr Karunaratne said.

Memory Care Is a Shared Journey
Even amid the technological leaps, the human instinct to act the moment something feels off still carries real weight in brain health. Family members - parents, siblings, spouses, children - are often the first to notice subtle changes in behaviour that affect daily life, and that early recognition can shape the entire course of treatment.

Dr Karunaratne urged families not to ignore persistent memory loss, confusion, personality changes, or difficulty managing everyday tasks.

"Early assessment enables early diagnosis and treatment using newer drugs, while empowering patients and families to make lifestyle changes that may slow cognitive decline," he said.

Dr Ghatali added that this is only the beginning of a longer road, one that requires sustained family support.

"Memory care is never just about the patient alone; it is a shared journey that involves the entire support system around them," he said.

Living Healthy
Protecting brain health starts well before symptoms appear, through habits built over a lifetime.

"There is no guaranteed way to prevent dementia, but there is strong evidence that a healthy lifestyle can lower the risk and help keep the brain functioning well as we age," Dr Sharaf said.

He pointed to managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes as critical, alongside regular exercise, quality sleep, a balanced diet, avoiding smoking, and staying mentally and socially active.

"Brain health is built over a lifetime, so the earlier we adopt these habits, the greater the potential benefit," he said.

Dr Asmaa Mohammed Hassan, Neurology Specialist at Medeor Hospital, Abu Dhabi, agreed that nutrition, sleep, and physical activity all play a vital role in protecting cognitive function and supporting healthy ageing.

"A healthy diet supports the gut microbiome, which communicates with the central nervous system through several biological pathways," she said.

Good-quality sleep and regular physical activity, she added, are equally important in slowing age-related brain cell decline.

"Think of the body as a company and the brain as its general manager. We must give the brain the care and respect it deserves," Dr Hassan said.