Avoid dementia by keeping brain 'active'

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-05/health/40391142_1_brain-health-brain-tissue-simon-ridley


Staying mentally active by reading books or writing letters helps protect the brain in old age, says a new American study.
The study, published in Neurology, says performing mental challenges leads to slower cognitive decline. It adds weight to the idea that dementia onset can be delayed by lifestyle factors, BBC reported.

In the study by the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, 294 people over the age of 55 were given tests that measured memory and thinking, every year for about six years until their deaths.
They also answered a questionnaire about whether they read books, wrote letters and took part in other activities linked to mental stimulation during childhood, adolescence, middle age, and in later life.
After death, their brains were examined for evidence of the physical signs of dementia, such as brain lesions and plaques.
The study found that after factoring out the impact of those signs, those who had a record of keeping the brain busy had a rate of cognitive decline estimated at 15 percent slower than those who did not.
Robert Wilson, of the Rush University Medical Center, who led the study, said the research suggested exercising the brain across a lifetime was important for brain health in old age.
"The brain that we have in old age depends in part on what we habitually ask it to do in life. What you do during your lifetime has a great impact on the likelihood these age-related diseases are going to be expressed," Wilson told BBC.
Commenting on the study, Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said there was increasing evidence that mental activity may help protect against cognitive decline. But the underlying reasons for this remained unclear.
"By examining donated brain tissue, this study has shed more light on this complex question, and the results lend weight to the theory that mental activity may provide a level of 'cognitive reserve', helping the brain resist some of the damage from diseases such as Alzheimer's," he told BBC.

India fights old myths on mental disorders

http://www.gulf-times.com/culture/238/details/359032/india-fights-old-myths-on-mental-disorders

In rural areas of India, many villagers still believe mental illness is caused by evil spirits angry that the sick person had killed a cow during a past life. So-called therapy, conducted by witch doctors or family members, can include chaining up the mentally ill, chanting spells, poking them with pins, or beating them “to force the spirits out”.

“There’s little awareness that it’s a real illness,” said Dr Indira Sharma, Varanasi-based president of the Indian Psychiatric Society. “Most people think it’s all a figment of your imagination. There’s still a very deep stigma.”

With a population of 1.2bn people, India has 4,000 psychiatrists, compared with 50,000 in the US, about 4,500 in California alone.But in recent years, the Indian government has increased budgets for psychiatric education and mental health awareness, seeking to curb a sharply rising suicide rate as millions move into cities where they lack the social support they had in rural villages.

Like public, Psychiatrists also feel proud of CRC

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-01/bangalore/40306345_1_mental-health-nimhans-kannada
Mental healthcare is not only about delving into the conscious and the subconscious. In a country like India, it is also about addressing the psychiatric health of society. Dr CR Chandrashekar, who had made Nimhans his second home for 44 years, has been at the forefront in providing expert intervention for addressing social manifestations of mental health in Karnataka. He retired on Sunday, eve of Doctor's Day.In keeping with his interventions, the senior doctor has penned 150 books in Kannada and 20 in English on mental health. Ruing the sad state of mental healthcare in Karnataka, he said: "We have just 200 psychiatrists for a population of over 6 crore. In Western countries, every school has a psychologist."

Chandrashekar's reading habits drove him to psychiatry. "I found it interesting to study changing human behaviour in the Kannada novels of Triveni and books of Dr R Shivaram, known by the pseudonym Rashi." The doctor has treated up to 50 patients a day from across the state. He has received letters from patients on a daily basis describing various mental problems. "So far, I have replied to more than 40,000 letters. In many instances, I have asked people to visit Nimhans or go to the nearest district government hospital which have trained psychiatrists," he says.

Night shift takes a heavy toll on health

http://www.drugtodayonline.com/mix/186-night-shift-takes-a-heavy-toll-on-health.html

With growing multi-national companies, call centers and BPO the demand for employees for working at ‘graveyard shifts’ has increased. Working at night can dramatically affect the health of an individual making them more prone to heart diseases, depression and other stressful unhealthy conditions.

Night shifts are often associated with sleepless nights leading to altered lifestyle disturbing the ‘circadian clock/rhythm’ which decides the sleeping patterns in humans. Sangita working a member of ground staff in Air India, says, “I have been taking night shifts for last two years. It has affected my diet, sleep and health. I feel weak and lazy, developed dark circles and acne on my face. I even took a medical break to revive my system.”
Dr Om Prakash, psychiatrist at IHBAS, says “Sleeping less leads to stressful life. Sleep is vital to maintain proper circadian rhythm. Sleep deprivation raises the risk of cardiovascular problems, fatigueness and MDD (Major Depressive Disorder).” The brain needs sleep at night and work during the day. In the evening when the light vanishes brain signals the secretion of a hormone ‘melatonin’ into the body fluids. Melatonin concentration determines sleeping pattern. Increased melatonin at night increases drowsiness making us fall asleep. The whole process reverses during the day as with the rising sun eyes senses the light and the melatonin level falls with increased level of another chemical serotonin that keeps us awake during the day. This constitutes circadian rhythm.
Other body functions including heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and gastrointestinal activity also keep fluctuating 24 hours according to the circadian clock.
Night shifts disturb the rhythm of circadian clock resulting into Shift Work Sleep Disorder (SWSD). SWSD resulting from disturbed sleep pattern is associated with insomnia and excessive sleepiness.
The most common symptoms include headaches, mood swings, short temper, bad hair/skin/nails, energy deficiency, diminished appetite, low immune response and weak memory. Increased accidents, reduced performance, work related errors and aggressiveness.Night workers not only experience physical disabilities but also face social problems. “Sleep is one issue that gives birth to other issues includes marital and social problems. As the world wakes they go to sleep, this makes it difficult for them to see friends, family and children posing strain on relationships. Their schedule isolates them from social life and they fail to fulfill their family’s expectations,” said Dr Prakash.
More than 50 per cent private companies run 24 hours a day to achieve high profile in the market. Employees have to take night shifts. Doctors, nurses, truck drivers, police and other private sector workers are often subjected to such lifestyle.
Anil is working with IBM, Gurgaon. He says, “I am new to this and as such don’t have any health complications. Yes, the diet has been affected as lunch is shuffled with breakfast, lot of junk food at work and dinner has no fix time. I sleep at morning hours and face frequent sleep disturbances”
A recent study conducted on over two million people suggests that night shift workers are at a 24 per cent higher risk of heart attacks and coronary events. The study was published in British Medical Journal. Moreover, individuals doing night shifts develop unhealthy behaviour such as improper diet, sleeping less and finding it hard to exercise.

Depression, the leading cause of suicides

Depression is a treatable condition and people can feel good again....Psychotherapy is a therapeutic interaction between a trained professional and the patient to solve problems which are psychological in nature...said Dr Om Prakash, Geriat...ric Psychiatrist & Associate Professor, IHBAS Delhi. http://www.drugtodayonline.com/review/329-depression,-the-leading-cause-of-suicides.html News story published in Drug Today Medical Times

 

 

recent news of Bollywood star Jiah Khan’s suicidal death has shocked the nation and left everyone with the Question as to what provoked the25-year old to take this extreme step.

Suicide not only results into the loss of a person but the people around are left wondering if they could have done something to prevent that person from taking the extreme step. Many millions of hours are spent by near and dear ones trying to cope with the loss of those who died by suicide. Short periods of overwhelming hopelessness or frustration mar the chances to live a normal life leading the person to end his/her life.

Suicide is among the top three causes of death among youth worldwide. According to a WHO report almost one million people die from suicide every year and 20 times more people attempt suicide. A global mortality rate of 16 per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds and one attempt every 3 seconds has been recorded on an average. India alone accounts for more than one lakh suicidal deaths every year. In the last three decades (1975 to 2005) the suicide rate increased by 43 per cent. It may be noted that 71 per cent of suicides in India are by persons below the age of 44 years. This imposes a huge social, emotional and economic burden on the country.

Over 90 per cent of people who die by suicide had suffered from some form of mental illness at the time of their death and the most common mental illness is depression. Depression is triggered by several negative life experiences. Thus, there are usually several causes, and not just one, for suicide. Death of a loved one, failure of a relationship, loss of property, loss of hope, being victimized as in case of rape, childhood emotional and physical neglect, a feeling of not being accepted by family, friends or society, physical or sexual abuse, feeling ‘trapped in a situation’ or ‘taken advantage of’ are among the negative experiences of life that may lead to major depression disorder. Losing a parent early in life probably increases the risk to some extent.

Getting depression is involuntary, no one wishes to have it, just like one don’t ask for diabetes or cancer. A person who has it does not look at life like a typical person who feels good. Their mental illness prevents them from being able to look forward to life. They lose their ability to look forward to a good future. They don’t realize they are suffering from a treatable condition and feel hopeless and helpless. They don’t wish to end life, but it’s the only way they feel they can kill their pain.

Ending life with suicide is not an overnight decision. The person remains mentally sick for a long period and may need medication or help of friends and family to overcome the tough time. Individuals who are depressed and exhibit symptoms as extreme hopelessness, lack of interest in activities that were previously pleasurable, panic attacks, heightened anxiety, previous suicide attempts and irritability are at a higher risk of suicide.

Depression is a treatable condition and people can feel good again. Psychotherapy has emerged as the quickest and most effective way to treat depression. It is a therapeutic interaction between a trained professional and the patient to solve problems which are psychological in nature. Dr Om Prakash, Geriatric Psychiatrist & Associate Professor, IHBAS Delhi, said “Psychotherapy – also called talk therapy or counseling – is a constructive way to deal with problems and issues that are psychological in nature. This is done by regular counseling and distortion in thinking and attitudes are corrected by resolving the conflicts and providing a supportive hand. It is recommended to a person with mental health concern that is causing the individual a great deal of pain for longer than a few days.”

Moreover, depression leading to suicidal thoughts is a temporary state of mind. If timely emotional support is offered to the person who is experiencing deep unhappiness and distress, the risk of them committing suicide can be prevented. Regular exercise, healthy eating and maintaining friendships can help individuals to cope better with stressful situations.
http://www.drugtodayonline.com/review/329-depression,-the-leading-cause-of-suicides.html