Government raises concerns over dementia<\/p>\n
Dewi Santoso, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Commemorating the sixth anniversary of Senior Citizens Day on
\nSaturday, the government is raising public awareness on how to
\ndelay the onset of dementia in some 16 million senior citizens,
\naround 15 percent of whom suffer from the disease.<\/p>\n
Dementia is severe organic mental deficiency or impairment,
\nwhich leads to a deterioration of the ability to memorize or
\nrecognize people and things.<\/p>\n
Such a disease usually attacks elderly people who do not
\nexercise their brain sufficiently.<\/p>\n
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that around 50 percent
\nof those suffering from dementia are aged over 85, with around 15
\npercent over 65.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi said on Saturday the
\nimportant measure that needed to be taken into account was how to
\ndelay the onset of dementia, otherwise the disease could force
\nsufferers to become dependent upon others.<\/p>\n
\"The message that we wish to convey here is that it's OK to be
\nold and healthy, but it's not OK to be old and suffer from
\ndementia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In the United States, the incidence of elderly people with
\ndementia aged over 85 is the highest, at 32 percent, followed by
\nthose aged 80 to 85, at 16 percent.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, no such data is available. However,
\nneurobehavior expert Abdulbar Hamid said cases of dementia could
\nincrease in the country in people as young as 50.<\/p>\n
Abdulbar explained that dementia could be categorized into two
\ntypes -- cognitive and emotional disturbance.<\/p>\n
Elderly people with cognitive disturbance are those unable to
\nrecognize others -- even those close to them -- and have
\ndifficulty in memorizing numbers, names or addresses.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, those suffering from emotional disturbance usually
\nexperience terrible mood swings: At one time they may feel sad,
\nwhile another time they may feel happy, for no apparent reason.<\/p>\n
\"If not treated immediately, they could soon suffer dementia.
\nIf so, it would mean that they could not look after themselves,
\nbut instead would have to depend on their families,\" said
\nAbdulbar.<\/p>\n
To prevent the incidence of more dementia cases, he said,
\nelderly people should be told that such a disease could be kept
\nat bay as long as they were willing to do exercise and stick to a
\nhealthy diet.<\/p>\n
\"It's good for the elderly to have something to do in their
\nspare time to keep their brain occupied. They could do something
\nlight like knitting, which could help their brain to
\nconcentrate,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Abdulbar added that it would also be helpful for elderly
\npeople to try to learn and remember things, including numbers,
\nonce they saw them.<\/p>\n
\"You know -- like trying to remember the names of your old
\nfriends, where you put your glasses and what you read the other
\nnight. It will improve your memory,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Another exercise is for the elderly to try and recall or bring
\nto mind everything they have learned, added Abdulbar. \"If you do
\nall of these, you will hopefully prevent, or at least delay, the
\nonset of dementia.\"<\/p>\n
According to data from the Ministry of Health, the number of
\nelderly people is expected to increase by 8.5 percent to 15
\npercent, from 16 million to between 19 million and 22 million of
\nthe total population, within the next six years.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-raises-concerns-over-dementia-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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