Daily Times

KARACHI: The growing use of mobile phone among children is exposing them to number of diseases, due to restricted physical activities, and also socially isolating them, warned health experts.

Speaking at a press briefing held in connection with the World Alzheimer’s Day on Tuesday, the health experts stressed the need for physical activities among the people of every age groups so that number of diseases including Alzheimer’s disease could be prevented.

The experts warned that with the growing population of elderly people in Pakistan the Alzheimer’s disease is also increasing to an alarming level with around 2 million Pakistanis suffering from the preventable ailment but lack of awareness complicating the situation.

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior changes and the disease is rapidly spreading globally as in every 3 seconds a person fall victims of Alzheimer’s disease. The cost to combat this disease globally has increased to $818 billion.

The people at the age of over 65 years are affected by 7 percent while those over the age of 75 are likely to be affected by 10-15 percent. If the disease is not timely treated it become incurable, they warned.

According to an estimate by 2050 the people affected with disease would be over 50 million worldwide, which is upsetting unlimited numbers of families. The dementia is also called ancestral diseases and is one of the six reasons of deaths. Speaking on the occasion, Professor Muhammad Wasay, President, Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation, observed that most the disease is linked with the old age and contrary to perception it can be prevented through remedial measures. “The average age in Pakistan is increasing which also increase the risk of diseases related to the old age. The Alzheimer’s disease is most common among the people who are 65 years of age and beyond”, Professor Wasay noted.

Though no treatment of Alzheimer’s is available but its progress can be controlled through remedial measures”, he observed.

He noted that the dementia is a curable but due to lack of awareness people do not understand its symptoms and associated it with the old age. Vitamin B 12 deficiency causes memory loss, he observed.

Professor Ejaz Vohra of Ziauddin Hospital said that called for creating awareness about the ailment and its consequences. Lack of physical and mental activities are among the few major reasons of this diseases, he noted,

He said that look after of the patient with care is must for slowing down the progress of the ailment among people suffering which could also reduce the risk by almost 35 percent. Dr Yahya Amir, Consultant Psychiatrist, Liyari General Hospital, called for the creation of awareness among the general physicians as the most they treat the patient in early stages. He also stressed for changing the behavioral pattern to avoid such diseases.

Professor Dr Arif Herekar Chairman Department of Adult and Child Neurologiy Baqai Medical University stressing the need for awareness among masses and the doctors so that they could better deal with the patients. Whenever they feel that a person has changed his or her normal routine they should consult doctors, he noted.

He said that the cost of treatment has increased to 1.09 percent of the global GDP. The elderly population in China, India and South East Asia growing which also put them at the risk. He informed that diagnose of the Alzheimer’s rate among middle to upper classes is 20-25 percent while among the poor segment of the society it stands at 90 percent.

Dr Sadaf Nasir called for better care of elder family members especially by those who are care givers to deal with the ailment effectively.

Senior physician Professor Hamid Shafqat viewed that lack of physical activities, education, loss of sleep and lack of awareness are most common factors responsible for the Alzheimer’s disease. Eight hour sleep and 45 minute walk every day can prevent many diseases, he noted.

He also held luxurious life style responsible for not only Alzheimer’s diseases but for many other including heart ailments.

Dr Abdul Malik, General Secretary, Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation said that awareness must be created to ensure importance of healthy body and mind. The growing trend of mobile phone use among children is socially isolating them has almost stopped physical activities which in turn is reducing mental activity, he warned.

He stressed the need for creation of healthy society based on social and moral values. Elderly population of Pakistan stands around 8 million which makes the country sixth largest in terms of aging population, he noted.

Published in Daily Times, September 27^th 2017.