With close to four million elders in India, including nearly 35,000 from Bangalore, suffering from dementia, experts want this progressive and degenerative brain disorder to be included in the national health programmes along with other major non-communicable diseases.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO), nearly 7.7 million new dementia cases are reported every year worldwide at the rate of 1 in every 4 seconds. In the wake of this, caregivers and doctors have been pressing for dementia to be recognised as an emerging epidemic. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia.
Associated with symptoms such as loss of memory, impaired judgement and reasoning, difficulty with day-to-day functioning and changes in mood and behaviour, dementia is not a part of normal ageing.
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As another World Alzheimer’s Day is being observed, the demand has become stronger.
S. Premkumar Raja, co-founder of Nightingales Medical Trust, told The Hindu that although a memorandum had been submitted to Health Ministers and Secretaries of State in the past, nothing had happened. “We will meet the officials to pursue our demand,” he said.
Brain-healthy lifestyleADVERTISEMENT
According to Anuradha H.K., Consultant Neurologist at Columbia Asia Hospital, a brain-healthy lifestyle can lower the risk or delay the onset of this brain degenerating disease.
A brain-healthy lifestyle includes regular exercise, activities that stimulate the brain and a nutritious diet. With people suffering from diabetes and hypertension being more prone, it is vital to ensure proper management of these diseases, she said.
Stating that dementia was not a normal part of aging, Dr. Anuradha said symptoms were often overlooked as family members mistake them for age-related forgetfulness.
“Being aware and watchful for symptoms and seeking medical advice may enable an early diagnosis. This will help in timely treatment that can slow down the symptoms,” she said.
Physical exercise such as brisk walking, running, cycling and swimming and mental exercise such as solving puzzles, reading and writing will help. People with greater mental agility and activity are found to be at lower risk of acquiring dementia, she said.
She advised that people consume food rich in Omega-3 fatty acids to keep the brain healthy. Including walnuts, fish, soybean and flax seeds in the diet will help reduce the risk, she added.