Dementia
Why it Matters?
A comprehensive Cambridge University study published in The Lancet Planetary Health links long-term air pollution exposure to a significantly increased risk of dementia.
What You Should Know?
Dementia is a syndrome involving deterioration in memory, thinking, and daily functioning.
It is progressive in nature and mainly affects older individuals.
Dementia is not a normal part of ageing.
Causes of Dementia:
Caused by damage to brain cells from:
Alzheimer’s disease (60–70% cases)
Stroke
Head injury
Infections (e.g., HIV)
Alcohol abuse
Poor nutrition
Risk Factors:
Non-modifiable: Age (especially over 65)
Modifiable:
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Obesity
Smoking
Excessive alcohol use
Social isolation
Low education levels
Lack of cognitive stimulation
Long-term exposure to air pollution
Symptoms:
Forgetting recent events or misplacing items
Getting lost in familiar places
Difficulty with decision-making and problem-solving
Trouble following conversations or performing familiar tasks
Visual misjudgements, like mistaking distances
Treatment:
No cure, but treatments improve quality of life and delay progression.
Medications include Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Galantamine for mild to moderate Alzheimer’s
Dementia is a WHO public health priority