Konyaaltı Municipality organized 'Alzheimer's Awareness Meeting' to draw attention to Alzheimer's disease, which has become a serious public health problem today, and to raise awareness on this issue. Japanese lecturer Ikuko Murakami, who participated in the event, gave information about the studies in Japan against Alzheimer's disease.
Konyaaltı Municipality organized 'Alzheimer's Awareness Meeting' to draw attention to Alzheimer's disease, which has become a serious public health problem today, and to raise awareness on this issue. Neurology Specialist Dr. Melih Vural, Dr. Ikuko Murakami, Lecturer at Akdeniz University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Gerontology, and Özlem Özgür, Research Assistant at Akdeniz University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Gerontology, informed the citizens about Alzheimer's disease.
Public health meetings
The event, which was held at Nazım Hikmet Fair and Congress Center, was attended by many citizens over the age of 50 as well as Konyaaltı Mayor Cem Kotan. Greeting the speakers and participants, Mayor Kotan said, “We care very much about public health in Konyaaltı. We have organized many activities since we took office. We care about our friends of all ages, but we especially care about our elders of your age. Alzheimer's is a difficult and important disease. We know this. In order to raise awareness of this issue and to raise awareness of this issue, we have brought together our expert professors with you. I hope our event will be useful for you.”
“I wish young people participated”
At the event, Akdeniz University 60+ Refreshment University Founder and Volunteer Faculty Member Neurology Specialist Melih Vural explained the ways to prevent Alzheimer's to the citizens. Stating that the population is accelerating both in our country and in the world, Dr. Vural stated that one out of every 3 people will be 60 years old in 2050. Noting that one of the important points in long life is to protect brain health, Dr. Vural said, “We need to start protecting our brain health and preventing Alzheimer's from an early age. I see that many people came to our event, but I wish our young people could be among us. Because Alzheimer's is a disease that needs to be prevented from an early age. In a study, many harmful substances such as pesticides and ready-to-eat food packages were detected in the blood of a newborn baby. The child comes to life with this burden. For this reason, people should try to protect themselves from Alzheimer's with their eating habits and lifestyle from childhood.”
“Herbicide is very dangerous”
Emphasizing that everything from what we eat and drink to our lifestyle can cause Alzheimer's, Dr. Vural gave the following information about how to eat:
“When vegetables are produced, a drug called herbicide is thrown to clean the weeds. It does nothing to the vegetables, it cleans other weeds. But that medicine stays on the vegetables. This drug has been banned in many parts of the world, but in Turkey, order it online today and it will be at your doorstep tomorrow. This causes many diseases from Alzheimer's to cancer. Therefore, when you buy your vegetables, soak them in carbonated water for half an hour. Not in vinegar, in baking soda. Pulses contain a substance called pectin. I do not recommend too many pulses for Alzheimer's patients, but if they are going to eat them, cook them in a pressure cooker. I do not recommend barbecue. Burning products are very dangerous, I know we love it. The best food is pot food cooked over low heat for a long time. Magnesium is very important for brain health. Exercise and ketogenic diet are very important. Don't skimp on the spices in your food. Especially sumac. Eat homemade pickles. Eat sea fish, village chicken and wild game.”
Murakami explained the Japanese model
Akdeniz University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Gerontology Dr. Faculty Member Ikuko Murakami also gave information about how dementia patients are cared for in Japan and the Day Care Center Kogure Gakuen in Japan. Murakami stated that Japanese people are ranked 1st in the world in terms of life expectancy and said that there are 90 thousand people over the age of 100 in Japan and one out of every 3 people is 65 years old. Stating that the most feared thing about aging is Alzheimer's disease, Murakami said, “Frankly, I am also very afraid. But there are things that need to be done to prevent it. We will pay attention to them.” Stating that care services for dementia patients in Japan are very advanced, Murakami said, “In Japan, there are both residential centers such as nursing homes and care centers where Alzheimer's patients can stay daily. In these centers, patients are engaged in activities such as knitting, playing chess and water weaving, and doing sports. In the Day Care Center Kogure Gakuen, patients are given university education. Because education that makes the brain work well is very important in Alzheimer's,” he said.
“Alzheimer's patients should not move”
Özlem Özgür, Research Assistant at Akdeniz University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Gerontology, informed the participants about how to live with Alzheimer's patients. Özgür stated that Alzheimer's disease is a disease that requires long and 7-24 care, so families have difficulties. Emphasizing that Alzheimer's patients should be cared for in their homes and that these patients should not be moved too much, Özgür said, “Even if another person will take care of them, they should not be taken out of their home environment. They should not be taken as guests too much. Because these patients experience a lot of anxiety when they cannot find a toilet and bathroom where they go.”
At the end of the event, the participants painted on the wall with the mandala technique, which makes it easier to cope with stress in the hustle and bustle of daily life and provides focus by concentrating attention.
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