1 in 9 elderly has Dementia in Kashmir
Srinagar, Sep 25: One in nine seniors in Kashmir has dementia, experts quoted a national survey at an event at GMC Srinagar today. The figures highlight the pressing need for better awareness, healthcare systems preparedness and improved quality of life for the affected.
Themed "When Dementia Reverses: Recognizing the Curable," the Continuous Medical Education (CME) cum community awareness event marked a proactive commemoration of World Alzheimer's Day.
The event brought together clinicians from various fields of medical science, as well as members from the social welfare department, charitable organisations, journalists as well as families of patients. J&K’s dementia prevalence stands at a grave 11 percent for those over 60 years of age. This demands immediate, localized responses and preparedness. "This isn't just a number; it's families fracturing under unseen burdens," remarked Prof. (Dr.) Bashir Ahmed Sanaie, Head of the Department of Neurology at the CME. The program was organized by GMC Srinagar’s Department of Neurology. He said it was important to recognise the burden of the disease, and delve deeper into how meaningful interventions at the right time could alleviate the suffering of patients as well as their caregivers.
On a note of hope, doctors communicated to the audience that nearly 40 percent of dementia is preventable. Dr Irfan Ahmed Shah elaborated on the modifiable factors that could help in delaying the onset of dementia. These include mental health deterioration, smoking, social isolation, lack of stimulation, hypertension-diabetes and other diseases linked to lifestyle. “People with less socialisation, less education, more depression are more likely to develop dementia,” he said. He also apprised the audience about the newer diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the disease.
Prof (Dr) Abrar Ahad Wani, Neuro-surgeon SKIMS Soura gave an illuminating lecture on surgical conditions that could lead to dementia. He shared various instances where patients with tumors or obstructions had cognitive impairment associated with dementia and how these were helped with surgical procedures. "Although surgical reasons for dementia are present in a smaller proportion of patients, yet these are alterable and reversible, and must not be missed,” he said.
Prof (Dr) Arshad Hussain, Department of Psychiatry, GMC Srinagar termed his address provocative. He said in the age of the brain, the brain was the most neglected organ. “Because we look at the brain from different perspectives – neurological, psychiatric. There has to be convergence to help medical science,” he said. He spoke extensively about the causes and symptoms of dementia which could be looked at and explained from the psychiatric point of view. Dr Hussain touched the topic of caregiver stress and the reduction in the quality of life of family with a member suffering from dementia.
A panel discussion with Prof. Bashir Ahmed Sanaie, Dr Umar Hafiz Khan Additional Professor Geriatric Medicine (SKIMS, Soura), Dr Tanveer Hassan, Consultant Neurologist SSH Srinagar, Ali Mohammad Lone Help Poor Voluntary Trust , Zehru Nissa Senior Journalist Greater Kashmir and Malik Bashir Ahmed, Department of Social Welfare. The panelists discussed the multi-pronged strategies that could be devised to help in early diagnosis of dementia, addressing preventable risk factors, improving lives of patients and caregivers, as well as the need for social support for patients. It was agreed by the panelists that healthcare systems in Kashmir, given its growing elderly population, need to gear up with more beds, more staff and better training to cater better.
The Session I was chaired by Profs. Dr Sheikh Mohammad Saleem, Dr Parvaiz Ahmad Shah and Dr Mohammad Hayat Bhat. Dr Atif Rasool Kawoosa lectured on Reversible Dementia: Treatment and when to suspect and Dr Tanveer Hassan delivered lecture on LGI Encephalitis and other treatable dementia during this session. The post-tea Session II was chaired by Profs. (Dr.) Mohammad Maqbool Wani, (Dr.) Syeed Shafiq Alam, Dr Omar Farooq and Dr Tajammul Hussain Mir. Dr. Irfan Ahmad Shah lectured on recent advances in dementia, DProf (Dr) Abrar Ahad Wani lectured on neurosurgical mimics of dementia and Prof. (Dr.) Arshad Hussain lectured on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia.
