There are several modifiable factors such as diabetes, middle-age obesity, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle and smoking that increase the risk of dementia, said Madhav Thambisetti, unit head of Johns Hopkins University’s Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Section.
Addressing a webinar conducted by Ennapadam S Krishnamurthy, Behavioral Neurologist and Neuropsychiatrist and Founder of Wisdom Clinic, on the topic ‘Alzheimer’s Dementia: From Ayurveda to Precision Medicine’, Dr Thambisetti said that interventions to reduce these risk factors can be May help prevent dementia. He noted that while dementia was a broad term that referred to difficulties with memory, thinking and problem solving that affected a person’s day-to-day functioning, Alzheimer’s was the most common cause of dementia.
Suhas Kumar Shetty, Professor and Head, Department of Psychology and Manasa Roga, Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda and Hospital, said that Ayurveda offered different options depending on the stage of dementia of the patient.
Dr. Krishnamurthy stressed the need to explore the integration of modern medicine with the knowledge of ancient medicine to offer better treatment options for dementia patients.
Rema Raghu, Clinical Director of Wisdom Clinic also spoke.
The discussion was organized ahead of World Alzheimer’s Day on 21 September.
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