Can dementia be prevented or delayed?
It may be possible to prevent or delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia through a combination of healthy habits.
KUALA LUMPUR: People tend to think that dementia is an inevitable part of ageing but, in actual fact, it can be prevented or, at least, its onset can be delayed, said Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS).
Dementia can be prevented or delayed by adopting a healthy lifestyle from a young age, said MHAS president Prof Dr Philip George.
“Having a healthy lifestyle from a young age include having a good diet, exercise and being socially connected,” he said in an interview.
Dr Philip, who is a consultant psychiatrist, said people should make such efforts a habit early in life because once dementia hits, there is no way to stop dementia or reverse it.
He said that mild cognitive impairment is part of the ageing process but people with mild cognitive impairment have a higher risk of developing dementia.
There are more than 50 causes of dementia and the most common is Alzheimer’s disease, the exact cause of which is not known, he said.
The second most common cause is vascular dementia, which is related to strokes or mild strokes that occur, resulting in some parts of the brain “decaying”, he said.
Dr Philip said that one of the concerns he is seeing is alcohol dementia among the elderly, where those who have been drinking heavily for many years suffer from dementia besides liver damage.
He said dementia in such cases could be avoided if people do not drink excessively.
Dr Philip also warns the elderly against being addicted to sleeping pills and sedatives because they can lead to memory problems and worsen dementia.
“The elderly are more susceptible to the side effects of such drugs. The abuse of these drugs can lead to increased falls, confusion and memory loss.
“If they are also taking other medications, this could also lead to drug interactions,” he said.
Dr Philip said that there is still not enough community support for those with dementia and depression, the two most common mental health disorders in the elderly.
This is worrying as Malaysia will become an ageing nation when 15% of its population are at least aged 60 by 2030.
In addition, he said that as families move away from living in an extended family environment, many of the old end up living alone and experience loneliness and depression.
He said there was a need for more commitment by the Government in developing elderly care services.
“Families are lost looking for support,” he said.
Dr Philip said that community clinics could also play a role in meeting the needs of the elderly as the nation ages.
“All healthcare personnel should start to learn about aged care so that it becomes part of their practice,” he said.
Mild cognitive impairment is part of the ageing process but people with mild cognitive impairment have a higher risk of developing dementia. Prof Dr Philip George