Speaking at the “Living with Alzheimer's” Alzheimer's Symposium hosted by Üsküdar University, Prof. Dr. Tarhan, Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Üsküdar University, stated, “The risk of developing Alzheimer's has increased due to longer average life expectancy.” Prof. Dr. Tanrıdağ, Head of the Department of Neurology at Üsküdar University, emphasized that the main risk factor for early-onset Alzheimer's is genetics. Experts in their fields discussed many topics related to Alzheimer's disease at the symposium, including diagnosis, treatment, legal aspects, caregiver psychology, rehabilitation, speech and language therapy, and the role of nurses.
The “Living with Alzheimer's” Alzheimer's Symposium, hosted by Üsküdar University with the main theme “Never Too Early for Prevention, Never Too Late for Intervention!”, was held in cooperation with the Turkish Alzheimer Association Kadıköy Branch and Kadıköy Alzheimer Center, and supported by NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi.
The opening speeches of the symposium, held at Üsküdar University Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall, were delivered by Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Üsküdar University and Honorary President of the Symposium, and Prof. Dr. Oğuz Tanrıdağ, Head of the Department of Neurology at Üsküdar University and President of the Symposium.
Nevzat Tarhan: “There is a 50 percent risk of developing Alzheimer's at age 85”
In the program, which was also attended by family members of Alzheimer's patients, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the topic of Alzheimer's has been discussed more since the 1990s because Alzheimer's is described as a disease that helps to understand the human brain better, and continued:
“The average age has increased; it used to be 40-60, now it has risen to the 80s. In Turkey, it has exceeded 80 for women and reached 77 for men. In such a situation, if a person has a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's, and since the average life expectancy has increased, there is a 50 percent risk of developing Alzheimer's at age 85. There is evidence that 50 percent of everyone who reaches the age of 85 receives an Alzheimer's diagnosis. As the average age increased, a person could die without developing Alzheimer's because they died at an earlier age. Now, the average age has increased to 80, 90. There are even those who live past 100.”
The importance of Alzheimer's has increased
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also stated that people are concerned about whether they will spend their last years of life well, saying, “The risk of developing Alzheimer's has increased due to longer average life expectancy. The importance of Alzheimer's has also increased. There has also been an increase in costs related to elderly care in this regard.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also pointed out how people can spend their advanced years in a quality way, emphasizing the importance of preventive medicine regarding diseases.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan noted that a healthy approach involves efforts to prevent society from getting sick, pointing out that world-renowned heart surgeon DeBakey, in his book published in his 90s, explained ‘How not to become a heart patient’ and said, ‘If I had the wisdom I have now, I would have written this book in my 30s.’
The epigenetic aspect of Alzheimer's is much greater
Prof. Dr. Tarhan emphasized that while Alzheimer's has a genetic aspect, its epigenetic aspect is much greater, pointing out the importance of lifestyle, how the brain is used, and actively engaging the brain.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also stated that the brain operates on a ‘use it or lose it’ principle, underlining that the brain atrophies when not used, and the human brain expands with use.
“Alzheimer can be delayed because the brain is continuously used”
Emphasizing the importance of starting preventive measures at an early age to avoid Alzheimer's and to have a good final period of life, Prof. Dr. Tarhan gave an example of a mathematics professor in the USA, stating that this person experienced the disease without any forgetfulness, only a decline in chess performance.
“This means Alzheimer's can be delayed because the brain is continuously used,” said Prof. Dr. Tarhan, adding that individuals who develop and use their frontal lobe very well are not significantly affected by Alzheimer's, even if they have a structural predisposition in their brain.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also gave examples of OCD patients, stating that patients want biological evidence, that uncertainty increases anxiety, and therefore, eliminating uncertainty is part of the treatment for all types of diseases.
“Those who take good care of their general health also take good care of their brain”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated:
“Regarding Alzheimer's, we also talk about being able to use the brain correctly. The risk associated with Alzheimer's is minimized with a healthy lifestyle. The human brain is not separate from the body. What is good for the human body is also good for the brain and the heart. Those who take good care of their general health also take good care of their brain.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also stated that wrong habits cause diseases, saying, “A healthy body starts with a healthy mind; those who manage their mind well also manage their brain well.”
Prof. Dr. Oğuz Tanrıdağ: “The main risk factor for early-onset Alzheimer's is genetics”
Prof. Dr. Oğuz Tanrıdağ noted that a topic that has recently gained more prominence is the age of onset of the disease, stating that before the 1900s, dementia was categorized as early dementia and senile dementia.
Prof. Dr. Tanrıdağ explained that Alzheimer's disease was defined as pre-senile dementia in the early 1900s, reminding that the first diagnosed patient was 51 years old and the diagnosis was made by autopsy.
Prof. Dr. Tanrıdağ also noted that Alzheimer's is one of the dementias that often starts before old age and is one of the genetic mutation diseases, emphasizing that the main risk factor for early-onset Alzheimer's is genetics.
There is a risk of early Alzheimer's disease in Down Syndrome
Prof. Dr. Tanrıdağ also stated that there is a risk of early Alzheimer's disease in Down Syndrome, explaining that Alzheimer's disease can begin in the brains of individuals with Down syndrome in their 30s and 40s.
Referring to a 13-year-old patient with Down syndrome as an example of early-onset Alzheimer's disease in recent years, Prof. Dr. Tanrıdağ also said that developmental disorders are effective in early-onset patients.
Prof. Dr. Tanrıdağ stated that a 19-year-old child in China was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's, adding, “Alzheimer's disease is generally considered a disease of old age.”
Super-agers should also be genetically protected
Prof. Dr. Tanrıdağ also answered ‘No’ to the question ‘Does Alzheimer's disease necessarily occur in advanced old age?’, stating, “No matter how old a person gets, Alzheimer's disease may never start. We call this super-aging. Super-agers should also be genetically protected.”
Prof. Dr. Tanrıdağ also stated that lifestyle is important in preventing Alzheimer's, saying, “Staying active, being social, thinking differently, and being positive are very important.”
Prof. Dr. Nilgün Çınar: “There are 800,000 Alzheimer's patients in Turkey”
Delivering her presentation on “Diagnosis and Treatment in Alzheimer's Disease” within the scope of the program, Prof. Dr. Nilgün Çınar, Head of the Department of Neurology at Maltepe University and Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Alzheimer Association Kadıköy Branch, drew attention to the general population growth, stating, “We observe that with population growth, the elderly population is also increasing. In fact, the elderly population is growing faster than other age groups. Consequently, Alzheimer's disease is also increasing. There are 55 million Alzheimer's patients worldwide, and 800,000 in Turkey.”
More common in women…
Çınar stated that Alzheimer's disease is more common in women, and due to the long duration of the disease and the lack of a definitive cure, she pointed out the heavy stress burden on caregivers and the increasing daily cost of care.
Çınar pointed to risk factors in the development of Alzheimer's disease such as age, gender, race, genetics, depression, and hearing loss, saying, “Attention should also be paid to infections in advanced age. Neuropsychological tests, neuroimaging techniques, and laboratory tests are used in diagnosis. In treatment, new FDA-approved drugs have started to be used alongside traditionally used medications. Additionally, drugs whose effects for Alzheimer's treatment have not been approved can also be used.”
Plaque from Prof. Dr. Tarhan to guest speaker Prof. Dr. Çınar
In the program, also broadcast live on ÜÜ TV, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan presented a plaque to Prof. Dr. Nilgün Çınar, Chairman of the Board of the Turkish Alzheimer Association Kadıköy Branch, after his speech.
Within the scope of the symposium, Prof. Dr. Gökben Hızlı Sayar, Director of Üsküdar University Institute of Social Sciences, Department of Mental Health and Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, spoke on ‘Alzheimer from a Psychiatric Perspective’; Lecturer İdil Arasan Doğan, Member of the Board of the Turkish Alzheimer Association Kadıköy Branch and from Üsküdar University Institute of Social Sciences, spoke on ‘Caregiver Psychology in Alzheimer's Disease’; Prof. Dr. Gökhan Oral, from Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medical Sciences and Department of Forensic Medicine, spoke on ‘Legal Issues and Evaluation in Alzheimer's Disease’; Lecturer Kübra Nur Menengiç, from Istanbul Arel University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, spoke on ‘Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in Alzheimer's Disease’; Dr. Lecturer Selin Karalı, from Biruni University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Speech and Language Therapy, spoke on ‘Speech and Language Disorders in Alzheimer's Disease’; and Specialist Nurse Melis Kübra Duran from Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi spoke on ‘The Role of the Nurse in Alzheimer's Disease’.