Bengaluru Experts Urge Early Dementia Checks as 45% of Cases Link to Modifiable Risks
Updated
Updated · The Hindu · Jul 4
Bengaluru Experts Urge Early Dementia Checks as 45% of Cases Link to Modifiable Risks
2 articles · Updated · The Hindu · Jul 4
Summary
About 85 participants at a Bengaluru brain-health programme heard specialists say early dementia diagnosis can preserve independence longer and improve care planning for patients and families.
More than 45% of dementia cases are tied to potentially modifiable risks, the experts said, pointing to exercise, balanced diet, cardiovascular control, social and mental engagement, sleep, and early hearing and vision correction.
Dominic Benjamin of Bangalore Baptist Hospital called prevention and early diagnosis the most effective tools in dementia care, saying treatment and support work best when help is sought at the first signs of change.
Dementia India Alliance, which organized the event with Athulya Senior Care, NIMHANS and IISc's Centre for Brain Research, said it will keep expanding awareness, caregiver support, training and community outreach.
If doctors often mistake dementia for normal aging, how can patients get the early diagnosis they need?
Since 45% of dementia is preventable, are we ignoring the societal factors behind the other 55%?
With new drugs failing, are lifestyle changes our only real defense against dementia?
Bengaluru Leads India’s Fight Against Dementia: Early Checks, 14 Risk Factors, and the Path to Prevention
Overview
Bengaluru is leading a new movement in dementia care by focusing on early checks and prevention, highlighted by the 'Mind Your Brain Health' event at IISc. This initiative marks a shift in how dementia is viewed, with experts stressing that it is not just a part of aging but a condition where early detection and prevention matter. The global approach, guided by the 2024 Lancet Commission, now targets 14 modifiable risk factors, showing that timely interventions and lifelong brain health management can slow or even prevent dementia. This proactive strategy aims to improve quality of life and reduce the strain on healthcare systems.