CUD joins campaign to increase awareness of Alzheimer's disease

Dubai - Quoting research on how music can possibly slow Alzheimer's, he offered insights into how music activates the whole brain.

Alzheimer's disease, currently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and spreading alarmingly across the globe, can be combated through nutrition, lifestyle changes, music and art, according to experts who spoke at an 'ILoveMyBrain' forum organised by 4get-me-not Alzheimer's Organisation, in collaboration with Canadian University Dubai.
Dr Graham Simpson, medical director, Intelligent Health Centre, Dubai, blamed processed foods (which he described as toxins for the brain) for the rising incidence of diseases like Alzheimer's, along with a diet packed with sugars, fatty foods and lack of exercise.
Dr Graham Simpson added: "Most of our diseases come from one source: our diet. Nearly 50 per cent of food in the Gulf is processed. And that is killing us. It is toxic to the brain. The fatty foods we consume lead to serious ailments, including diseases of the brain, such as Alzheimer's. Add to this the lifestyle adopted by most people, eating fatty foods and sugary drinks."
Dr Efthymios Papatzikis, Assistant Professor in educational neuroscience in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the university, who is also a musician, referred to the growing evidence of the role of music in the fight against Alzheimer's.
Quoting research on how music can possibly slow Alzheimer's, he offered insights into how music activates the whole brain. "It is known that therapy using singing tunes improves psycho-motor speed in Alzheimer's patients and music is known to enhance verbal episodic memory," he added.
Ahmed Mohamed Ali Nassar, Training Manager, Bin Sina Pharmacy, speaking on Nutrition and Alzheimer's referred to the relatively low research funding for Alzheimer's vis-à-vis disease like cancer. Cancer research gets ten times more, whereas the cost of cancer care in US is $100 billion, against $200 billion for Alzheimer's. In 2015, 40 million people died of Alzheimer's, and it is projected that the number would rise to 70 million by 2030.
Desirée Vlekken, founder and CEO of 4get-me-not Alzheimer's Organisation, UAE, stressed the role of art, music and nutrition in the fight against Alzheimer's and underlined the need to spread the word regarding preventive measures that need to be taken to halt its alarming spread. She thanked Canadian University Dubai for its role in raising awareness through this event.
Dr Toba Elegbe - Consultant Internal Medicine, Mediclinic City Hospital, spoke on the Geriatric Medicine and line of treatment for Alzheimer patients. He stressed the importance of developing a plan with the family for treating and handling patients.
In his welcome speech, Dr Stefane Moustafa, Dean School of Environment and Health Sciences, CUD, remarked that CUD was pleased to be involved in supporting the campaign and called for greater research into preventive measures and role of music, art and social aspects in slowing the incidence of Alzheimer's.