India is a land of paradoxes. On one end we have the youngest population in the world, with roughly 50% of the population below the age of 30 years. But on the other end of the spectrum, as of July 1, 2022, India had 150 million people aged 60 and above, about 10.5% of the country’s population. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) predicts that this number will increase to 347 million by 2050, which would be a 134% increase and would make up one in every five people in India.
Dementia (memory loss) commonly appears as people age. Symptoms include repeatedly calling children despite having already done so, forgetting what was eaten for lunch by evening, and not recognizing familiar people. Many children perceive these behaviours as stubbornness and get frustrated with their elders. However, it’s crucial to realise that this could be dementia. Identifying it and seeking treatment can potentially lead to full recovery.
Certain types of dementia come with unique problems such as loss of bladder control, walking much faster than usual, and remembering names of distant people but not those close by. Children must be vigilant in such cases, understanding that these are medical issues and consulting the right doctors for treatment.
Doctors at Kamineni Hospital in LB Nagar in Hyderabad successfully treated a 73-year-old man with such symptoms through minor surgery. Consultant neurosurgeon Dr Ramesh from the hospital provided details related to this case.
Shankarrao, a 73-year-old from Visakhapatnam, has been experiencing difficulties for the past six months. He had no control over urination and walking became slow. Additionally, he couldn’t remember what he had for lunch by evening. These various problems were causing significant concern for his family members. He would repeatedly call his children, forgetting that he had already called them, which caused considerable frustration for the family. After consulting multiple hospitals, they finally came to Kamineni Hospital in LB Nagar.
Upon examination, it was found that fluid had accumulated in his brain. Typically, if such fluid accumulates in young people, it can lead to a coma because they can’t bear the pressure. However, as people age, their brain gradually shrinks, creating some space where this fluid can accumulate. This accumulation puts pressure on the brain, leading to dementia. This type of dementia can be treated with minor surgical procedures.
In Shankarrao’s case, the fluid was removed from his spine over three consecutive days, which gradually reduced the fluid in his brain. Then, a stent was placed in his brain, allowing the fluid to drain into the abdomen, where it is expelled through normal bodily processes. From the moment the fluid was removed, Shankarrao’s condition significantly improved. He is now living his normal life again, recognizing everyone. His walking has also returned to normal, and he has no problems.
“For the next five years, he is not expected to face any issues. Regular check-ups with doctors and necessary medication will suffice,” explained Dr Ramesh.
However, he noted that this treatment is not effective for all types of dementia, but only for dementia caused by fluid accumulation in the brain.
As we can see the healthcare system in India will get gradually stretched extending from the issues with children and youth to tackling such complex cases which involve fluid accumulation in the elderly. Hopefully, with greater awareness, this can be overcome. If you have an elderly in the house suffering from dementia, one of the areas to look for is the accumulation of fluid in the brain.
