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| Sunday, 22 September 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Getting past the 50s by Chitra Weerasinghe Yesterday was 'World Alzheimer's Day' and those who joined in that much awaited 'Memory Walk' and offered to help in caring for the ageing, were also talking about some of the 'crazy doings' of this segment of people - which 'doings' invariably antagonisse, embarrass or leave those who are bound to care for them in a quandary. And during that pow-wow a number of important facts about ageing were discussed and disseminated. The most important thing to be aware of is that if you are 60 years and over and are likely to have memory lapses; fail to recognise familiar faces of friends and relatives; are prone to fits of violent temper and/or are suspicious of people, then the chances are that you may be on the road to dementia (memory lapses). Dementia is considered a pitiful condition since it eventually leads to Alzheimer's disease - referred to as "dreadful." Dreadful because it is the fourth most common cause of death after heart disease, cancer and stroke. But there is hope. Hope for the afflicted and for those who are, perhaps duty bound to care for such people. And that hope of assistance comes to you from the Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Foundation of Sri Lanka. So all you've got to do is to get in touch with this organisation located at Udaya Mawatha, Mt. Lavinia, for information and assistance. Alzheimer's Diseases International (ADI) is in touch with 60 such foundations the world over which exchange their research studies and other information. There being a scientific stampede to find a cure for this disease, a group of alternate medical practitioners in India claim through observed research that dementia is less prevalent in India than in the west due to regular consumption of tumeric, coriander and cummin seed.' "The risk of developing dementia increases exponentially beyond the age of 60 and women run a higher innate risk (twice as many) due to particular chemical imbalances." Food, fun and laughter No one can escape aging which is an inevitable and irreversible, biological process, but they can fight their chances of getting old if they keep themselves happy.
What of those in the 50-year group who have never had any regular exercise? Even at 50, 60, 70 or 80, it is not too late to begin, for, exercise does not mean having to join a gym or club, indulge in weight lifting, aerobics or going on long spells of jogging . Walking is considered the best form of exercise and it could be done anywhere. Just a simple walk along the streets, in the home garden; or indoors done regularly would suffice. Walking is said to refresh the mind; increase the capacity of the lungs to inhale more oxygen and help in reducing stress and tensions for it is believed that when a person nears middle age and old age he/she comes under more stress and tensions - both of which are associated with disorders such as hypertension, heart disease and depression. Driver fatigue There is good news. And that is, here in Sri Lanka there is to be stringent legislation to punish motorists who violate the Highway Code together with the imposition of a much bigger fine. But drunken drivers are not the only ones to blame. There are also those who experience `driver fatigue' as a recent research study in Australia has revealed and so they have come up with a hi-tech device that could monitor a driver's state of mind - every movement, every glance, every blink, head angle, if he displays the early morning signs of going to sleep and so on. There are, apparently 15 million new cars sold each year and with that an increasing number of drivers. Here, in Lanka, there are 80,000 new vehicles each year and 90,000 new drivers. "Don't blame drivers of vehicles alone for the increasing accidents," V. Perera tells me. What about those people who have a total disregard for others and push and trample people's toes just to jump off a bus when it happens to slow down near a place where they are to be in? he asks. Then there are those who travel on footboards regardless of consequences; those who run behind moving buses or take to the pedestrian crossings ignoring the traffic signs. A driver of a vehicle explained ''Madam when the green light is on we have to ignore the pedestrian crossings and move on before the red light comes on. If a pedestrian runs across at that time, woe be unto him.'' Shouldn't we think, observe and then leap? |
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Research
studies have proved that those who keep themselves physically and mentally
active show less signs of ageing if they exercise, adhere to a nutritious
diet and generally enjoy themselves.
