Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology and Turkey Alzheimer's Association Kayseri Branch President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Gültekin made a statement on September 21, World Alzheimer's Day; “By strengthening our brain health, we can prevent Alzheimer's disease,” he said.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Gültekin said, “Alzheimer's Disease is the most common neurodegenerative brain disease with no curative treatment yet. Unfortunately, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease is increasing every year. The most important reason for this is the increase in the average life expectancy of people. Since 2023, the World Health Organization has included Turkey among the countries with an aging population. In our country, the population over the age of 65 has exceeded 10 percent for the first time since the history of the Republic. This rate will be 16 percent in 2040 and 25 percent in 2080.”
The biggest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease is advanced age
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Gültekin said, “While approximately 6 percent of Alzheimer's disease is seen around the age of 65, it increases to 35-40 percent at the age of 90. In the face of this unstoppable increase in Alzheimer's disease, the most important protective factor is to raise awareness of people-society and to strengthen and protect our brain health.”
Pointing out that awareness activities about this unrelenting disease are held every year on September 21, World Alzheimer's Day, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Gültekin said, “According to current scientific studies, if we protect and strengthen our brain health, we will be protected from Alzheimer's disease with a 50 percent probability.”
How can we strengthen our brain health?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murat Gültekin said, “To strengthen the brain health of scientists; not smoking and drinking alcohol, sleeping regularly, eating foods without additives, avoiding obesity, exercising regularly, solving vision and hearing problems, living in a place without air pollution and noise, staying away from stress, being social at any age, continuing to deal with hobbies, continuing activities that will keep our minds fresh, keeping diseases such as diabetes-hypertension-hyperlipidemia under control with appropriate treatment. There are approximately 9-10 thousand Alzheimer's patients in Kayseri. At Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, we serve our patients in the Alzheimer-Dementia Polyclinic on Wednesdays. On Thursdays, we provide training seminars to patient relatives, caregivers and citizens who wish at the Kayseri Alzheimer's Association building between 12:00 -13:00.”
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