It is increasing exponentially every day... One person develops this disease every 3 seconds

Specialist Dr. Firdevs Kuserli from the Neurology department stated that it is everyone's responsibility to draw attention to the disease and raise awareness on the occasion of World Alzheimer's Day.

Kuserli, "The action plan announced by the WHO regarding dementia and specifically Alzheimer's disease aims to create a world where dementia is prevented through public health interventions, and where people with dementia and their caregivers live well" said.

Kuserli stated that creating awareness about Alzheimer's disease is of great importance for achieving this goal in Turkey as well.

Stating that Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, Kuserli said that the disease is generally known among the public as 'senility'.

'THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF THE DISEASE CAN BE REDUCED'

Kuserli said, "We can define Alzheimer's disease as the loss of cognitive functions resulting from the aging and loss of function of brain cells over time. Knowing the protective factors related to the disease and implementing strategies for prevention is the most important step in the fight against the disease. With early diagnosis and correct supportive treatments, the devastating effects of the disease can be reduced."

Kuserli stated, "While it is known that there is a decline in learning and mental performance with advancing age, cognitive decline associated with normal aging usually consists of mild changes in memory and information processing speed."

Kuserli noted that significant impairment in memory is not expected and added the following:

"The most important feature that distinguishes normal aging from dementia is that cognitive deficits are not highly progressive and do not affect daily functions. Most dementia patients do not complain about memory loss themselves. It is usually the spouse or children who notice this problem. However, family members often delay recognizing dementia symptoms, mistakenly attributing them to aging."

Kuserli pointed out the importance of knowing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, saying, "Although it varies depending on the type of dementia, the most common initial symptom of Alzheimer's disease is progressive memory impairment."

Kuserli listed other common early symptoms as follows:

Attention and concentration disorders,

Difficulties in learning and processing new information,

Difficulty in performing complex or multi-tasking activities,

Difficulty in problem-solving and a decrease in mental flexibility.

Kuserli stated that these symptoms can also manifest in elderly individuals as withdrawal, depression, or irritability. She noted that as the disease progresses, behavioral and psychological symptoms, as well as sleep disorders, become more common.

Kuserli emphasized the importance of engaging in mentally challenging and complex activities to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

'WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE HEART IS ALSO GOOD FOR THE BRAIN'

"It is necessary to keep the mind constantly active and to be open to learning new information and engaging in new pursuits at any age," said Kuserli, adding, "Healthy and sufficient sleep is essential for healthy mental activity. We recommend keeping chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol under control, avoiding smoking and alcohol, following a Mediterranean-style diet, and exercising regularly. What is good for your heart will also be good for your brain."

Kuserli stated that maintaining physical activity, in particular, has highly beneficial effects on mental activity, and noted that stress control should be ensured as much as possible.

Emphasizing that being part of an active social life and staying connected to life is of great importance for elderly individuals, Kuserli said, "Research shows that people who have broad and diverse social networks remain healthier."