ISLAMABAD: Diseases affecting the brain are the most frequent causes of handicaps throughout the world. A good share of the disease burden can be avoided by taking preventive measures, said Prof Dr Arsalan Ahmad, consultant neurologist at Shifa International Hospital (SIH), quoting the World Federation of Neurology as saying on the World Brain Day. Dr Arsalan, who is also the president of Pakistan Society of Neurology (PSN), said that the public was not sufficiently aware of the subject and healthcare policy in many places did not include it to a sufficient degree. He said, “The ageing population has major social, health, and economic consequences. Brain health will be among the most important determinants of social and economic well-being of older persons in the future.” In this connection, the PSN on Friday organised an awareness seminar to mark the World Brain Day. The programme was chaired and co-chaired by renowned neurologists Prof Mohammad Tariq and Brig Wasim Alamgir, respectively, and attended by neurologists, medical specialists and medical students of the twin cities. This year’s theme ‘Brain health and the ageing population’, is focused on increasing global awareness on the management and prevention of all brain and neuromuscular diseases affecting the elderly, and concepts and means of promoting the prevention of brain diseases. Similar seminars and awareness sessions were also organised in most major cities of the country. Quoting statistics of the World Federation of Neurology, Dr Arsalan says that the prevalence of a number of neurological conditions increases with age, including stroke, dementia, and Parkinson’s, the most common brain diseases affecting an ageing population. Experts assume that ten to 20 percent of all 60 to 80 year-olds suffer from at least one of these disorders. Among those over the age of 80, nearly one in three individuals are affected. And this age group is growing – worldwide. “Today, people over the age of 60 number 800 million and account for 12 percent of the world population. By 2050, demographers assume that 21 per cent will have reached that age and will number more than two billion. The number of neurological patients will rise continuously as a result,” he said quoting the statistics of the WFN. Dr Mohammad Azhar Saeed, consultant neurologist at the SIH, said that Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting elderly population. According to estimation, around 400,000 people in Pakistan are suffering from Parkinson’s disease, which globally affects over 6 million people. As the disease is progressive and results in chronic disability, so early diagnosis and treatment can help relieve symptoms and slow the progression of disease, thereby reducing disability and improving the quality of life of the individual, he said, adding that the usual age of onset is in the 6th decade of life, affecting both gender with slight male preponderance. “The common clinical features of Parkinson’s disease include tremor, stiffness and rigidity, slowness of movements and imbalance. As the disease progresses the symptoms become more severe resulting difficulty in walking, talking and swallowing. The appropriate combination of medication with physiotherapy and gait training can help the people affected by Parkinson’s disease to live a healthy life, he explained. Dr Mazhar Badshah, associate professor at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), said stroke was the leading cause of disability and a leading cause of mortality worldwide and in Pakistan. “Estimated annual incidence is 250/100,000 translating to more than 400,000 new patients per year. Effective preventive measures include identification and management of risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol. A healthy lifestyle with good exercise, eating healthy, reading and problem solving promotes brain health,” he remarked. Dr Asad Tamizuddin Nizami, associate professor at BBH spoke about ‘depression in elderly patients’. He said, “The proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22% between 2015 and 2050. Depression occurs in 7% of the general elderly population. Symptoms of depression in older adults are often overlooked and untreated because they coincide with other problems encountered by older adults. There is a clear association between the severity of depression and neurocognitive deficits with increasing age and must be assessed in elderly population. Dr Shehzad Khan Siddique, consultant geriatrician in his presentation said, “Falls are the leading cause of injury-related visits to emergency departments and the primary aetiology of accidental deaths in people above 65 years. Falls are often associated with significant morbidity. Risk factors for falls in the elderly include increasing age, medication use, cognitive impairment and sensory deficits. Treatment is directed at the underlying cause of the fall. Patients with stroke, Parkinsons disease and dementia are all at increased risk of falls.”